The Gophers women’s soccer, which tied Penn State for the Big Ten title last season, is rated No. 19 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s preseason poll.

The U was 22-4 overall last season, 8-2 in conference play.

Minnesota was rated No. 15 in the final NSCAA poll last season after the NCAA tournament.

No. 19 is the Gophers’ highest preseason ranking ever.

Defending national champion North Carolina is ranked No. 1 followed by No. 2 Stanford and No. 3 Notre Dame, the team which eliminated the U in OT in the round of 16.

Penn State is the highest rated Big Ten team at No. 12. Illinois is No. 17.

In the Big Ten coaches’ preseason poll, the Gophers are not considered that highly. The coaches voted them to tie for fifth with Ohio State.

Penn State, which has won or tied for conference titles the past 11 years, was voted the favorite for a seventh year in a row.

Expected to challenge the Nittany Lions were Michigan State, Illinois and Purdue, rated second through fourth.

Following the Gophers and OSU, was Wisconsin, picked for seventh, followed by Indiana, Northwester, Iowa and Michigan.

The 2009 Big Ten season starts Aug. 21 with 10 of the 11 teams playing. The Gophers face South Dakota State at home at 6 p.m.

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