St. Cloud State University has received a number six ranking in the 2016 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference preseason soccer coaches' poll, which was released on Wednesday, Aug. 17.

The Huskies gained 162 points in the poll, while Augustana was the top pick with 215 points and Minnesota State was second with 213 points.  The remained for the top five included Winona State (188), Minot State (181) and Bemidji State (168).  SCSU finished its 2015 season with a 9-6-3 overall record and placed fifth in the always rugged NSIC with an 8-4-3 league record.

SCSU players to watch, as selected by the NSIC, this season are sophomore forward Maria Kass and junior defender Mackenzie Winters.

The defending NSIC Tournament Champions of Augustana University were picked to win the NSIC in the preseason coaches' poll. This marks the first time since joining the NSIC that the Vikings have been picked to win the NSIC and the first time dating back to the 2000 season that either Winona State or Minnesota State have not been picked to win the league.

The 2016 NSIC Soccer Regular Season Champion will be determined by a 15-game league schedule, with a win earning a team three points and a tie one point.  The 2016 NSIC Soccer season will see its first action on Thursday, September 1 as six matches kickoff the season.

The Huskies are in the midst of preseason practice sessions and charted a 2-1 loss in exhibition play at DI opponent the Univeristy of North Dakota on Aug. 16.  SCSU will also meet up against the College of St. Benedict at home in exhibition play on Aug. 26 at 7 p.m.  SCSU will then open its regular season on Sept. 2 with a game at Northern Michigan and a Sept. 4 date at Michigan Tech.  The Huskies' home opener is slated for Sept. 13 against Minnesota Duluth.  Game time that night at scenic Husky Stadium is slated for 7 p.m.

SCSU returns two of its top three scorers in sophomores Maria Kass and Alexa Starr. Kass led the team in goals (8), points (18), shots on goal (21) and game-winning goals (4) while starting 17 of the team's 18 games as a freshman. She also ranked ninth in the NSIC in goals per game during her rookie campaign. Starr, an Alaskan native, also made an immediate impact in ranking second on the team in goals (4), points (10) and game-winning goals (2) while playing in 13 games with three starts.

The team's 11 returning players combined to score 15 of the squads 26 goals. After starting all 18 games last season, junior Mackenzie Winters returns to anchor a defense that allowed just 1.17 goals per game and recorded five shutouts.  Senior Julia Clifford, junior Leah Schmidt and freshman Caitlyn Bangert will have a strong competition once camp begins to see who will be the primary goalkeeper this season after the graduation of last year's two-year starter Brittany Plombon.

Head coach Gretta Arvesen is entering her third season leading the program and will look to build on the team's third winning season in the last four years. After going 6-2-2 at home during the 2015 campaign, the team has eight regular season games at home this season at Husky Stadium.

Tickets for all home games will be available at the gate on game day.  SCSU students with a valid SCSU student ID card will be admitted FREE to all regular season home games in 2016 at Husky Stadium.

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