RedStorm women tabbed No. 2 in RSC soccer coaches' poll

The University of Rio Grande has been picked second in the 2025 River States Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The poll, announced by the River States Conference office, saw each of the conference's 11 head coaches rank the other member schools in order of predicted finish.

Head coach Brooke Perkins' RedStorm garnered one first-place vote and 87 points in the balloting.

Oakland City University was the runaway choice to win a second straight league title, finishing first with 10 first-place nods and 100 points.

The Mighty Oaks, who were picked ninth in the preseason coaches' poll last season, were dominant during the 2024 campaign, allowing just four regular-season goals in conference play en route to a 9-0 record.

Oakland City then beat WVU Tech and IU East to win their first conference tournament championship in women's soccer.

Rounding out the top five behind OCU and Rio was conference tournament runner-up IU East (74 pts.), WVU Tech (70 pts.) and Shawnee State (65 pts.).

IU Kokomo (60 pts.) is placed at the center of the conference at sixth, with Brescia (48 pts.) seventh, Midway in eighth (37 pts.), St. Mary-of-the-Woods ninth (35 pts.), IU Columbus 10th with 19 points and RSC newcomer Kentucky Christian rounding out the league at 11th with 10 points.

Four RSC teams will open up the season on the first allowable date of competition, Thursday, Aug. 21, with Rio Grande and IU East playing home games while St. Mary-of-the-Woods and IU Kokomo are on the road.

Conference play begins with three matches on the schedule for Thursday, Sept. 25 - IU Kokomo visits Kentucky Christian, St. Mary-of-the-Woods heads to Midway and IU East travels to Oakland City.