PORTLAND, Ore. - The GNAC released the results of the 2023 Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll on Monday, with Northwest Nazarene selected third out of the eight teams.

NNU earned 46 points in the poll, six behind second-place Seattle Pacific. Defending conference and national champion Western Washington took the top spot with 63 points and seven of the eight first-place votes.

Western Oregon was behind NNU in fourth, followed by Simon Fraser, Central Washington, Saint Martin's, and Montana State Billings.

The Nighthawks were also picked third in last season's preseason poll, but exceeded expectations with the program's highest-ever GNAC finish of second. NNU went 9-2-3 in conference play and 12-4-4 overall, entering the GNAC Tournament as the two-seed and defeating SPU in the semifinal to reach the program's first conference title game. 

First Team All-GNAC and All-Region forward Madison Grande returns to lead the Nighthawks offense in 2023 after scoring 11 goals a year ago. Savanna Herz (three goals, four assists) and Alejandra Jaramillo (HM All-GNAC, three goals, three assists) also figure to factor into NNU's offensive potential this season.

Defenders Kailyn LaBrosse (First Team All-GNAC) and Kate Bleffert (Second Team All-GNAC) return to anchor the NNU defense that recorded a 0.65 goals against average in 2022, allowing just 12 goals in 20 matches with 10 shutouts.

 

Rank	Team (FPV)	Points
1	Western Washington (7)	63
2	Seattle Pacific	52
3	Northwest Nazarene	46
4	Western Oregon	36
5	Simon Fraser	31
6	Central Washington (1)	28
7	Saint Martin's	20
8	Montana State Billings	12