A year after winning its eighth consecutive NSIC Regular Season championship, the Winona State soccer team was picked to finish second in the conference standings in a vote of the league’s coaches.

The Warriors received 212 votes, just nine votes behind preseason No. 1 Minnesota State which won the NSIC postseason tournament last year. Winona State received five first place votes from the conference head coaches with Minnesota State earning the other 11.

Winona State posted a 14-4-1 overall record a season ago, winning the conference title with a 12-1 record.

Junior Jennifer DeRoo, the NSIC Newcomer of the Year in 2010, was selected as the team’s offensive player to watch on the year. DeRoo was limited to just seven games a season ago due to an injury but scored 11 goals during her freshman season.

Rebecca McCoy, a junior defender, was picked as WSU’s defensive player to watch. McCoy helped anchor a Warrior defense that allowed just 11 goals last season while also scoring a goal of her own and handing out two assists.

Winona State will open its 2012 season with a matchup against Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo. on August 31. The Warriors’ first home game will be on Sept. 7 against Upper Iowa.