The Rutgers women's soccer team is coming off of a record setting season in 2015, which they are hoping contiues this upcoming season. They were recently chosen in the top 10 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason poll. The team has now been chosen to finish second in the Big Ten in a vote by the league coaches. Joining Rutgers in the top three are Wisconsin at #3 and last year's champions Penn State at #1. Last year, the Scarlet Knights ended the season ranked #3 in the country after earning a trip to the NCAA Women's College Cup.

Along with the highly ranked team as a whole, three of players were named to the Big Ten Women's Soccer Preseason honors list- Colby Ciarrocca, Madison Tiernan, and Erin Smith. They were chosen to join only 39 other Big Ten athletes in this honor. This #2 position is the best that Rutgers has ever placed in the preseason poll. Last year they were projected third and eighth in 2014.

Rutgers will be returning five of their starters from last year which include goalkeeper Casey Murphy, who is currently playing with the U.S under 20 national team, Colby Ciarrocca, Madison Tiernan, Erin Smith, and Kenie Wright. The Scarlet Knights will add 13 new players to the mix this fall. After finishing the 2015 season with a record of 19-4-4, with four wins over top 25 opponents, Rutgers Women's Soccer team looks to continue to improve.

Rutgers will opened up their season at Rider University on August 19. The first home game for these ladies will be on August 21 against Providence University. Check here for the Full Season Schedule.

The entire Big Ten Women's Soccer Preseason Poll is as follows:

1-Penn State

2-Rutgers

3-Wisconsin

4-Michigan

5-Ohio State

6-Minnesota

7-Northwestern

8-Nebraska

9-Illinois

10-Michigan State

11-Purdue

12-Indiana

13-Iowa

14-Maryland