NAPERVILLE, Ill. – A preseason coaches poll has selected North Central as the 2022 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) favorite in women’s soccer, according to a Thursday announcement from the league office. The Cardinals, who narrowly missed a share of last season’s title, snagged four first-place votes for 59 points.
 

Team (First-Place Votes)	Points
1. North Central (4)	59
2. Wheaton (4)	58
3. Illinois Wesleyan (1)	52
4. Augustana	45
5. Carroll	33
6. Carthage	26
7. Millikin	25
8. Elmhurst	14
9. North Park	12

North Central scored six goals in its 2021 CCIW Tournament semifinal to advance to the final for the first time. NCC is also in search of its first-ever regular-season league championship after putting up a 6-2-0 mark in CCIW action last fall.
 
Longtime league power Wheaton also received four first-place votes in the 2022 poll for 58 points and the second spot in the poll, a single point behind first-place North Central. The Thunder shared last season’s regular-season conference title, won the 2021 CCIW Tournament and ultimately advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Thunder have won or shared the last five regular-season CCIW crowns and have won a league-best 22 titles since 1995.
 
After sharing the league title last season for the first time since 2016, Illinois Wesleyan is third in the 2022 poll after logging a single first-place vote and 52 points. The Titans are aiming to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since making seven consecutive trips from 2013 through 2019, including a run to the Final Four in 2014.
 
Augustana, a fourth-place finisher in 2021, is picked fourth again in 2022 with 45 points. Carroll was next with 33 points, followed by Carthage (26 points), Millikin (25 points), Elmhurst (14 points) and North Park (12 points).
 
Regular-season matches begin with seven CCIW teams in action on Thursday, Sept. 1. League competition kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 24. The top six teams in the final regular-season standings will collide in the CCIW Tournament, scheduled to begin on Saturday, Oct. 29.