After a dramatic run to the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2005, the Denison Big Red women's soccer team are picking up right where they left off last November. In the first NSCAA/adidas Division III top-25 poll of the 2006 season the Big Red were picked eighth, matching their ranking in last season's final top-25 poll.

The Big Red posted a 16-4-4 record in 2005 and were one win away from their first final four appearance in school history. In last year's tournament Denison defeated Frostburg State, 2-0, in the first round, handed DePauw (ranked #17) a 1-0 defeat and advanced via penalty kicks against in-state rival Otterbein (ranked #10) in the third round. The quarterfinals saw the Big Red end The College of New Jersey's 16-match scoreless streak, but a TCNJ goal in the 87th minute ended the Big Red's magical tournament run.

Denison is the highest ranking Ohio college in the top-25 with Otterbein checking in 10th and Ohio Wesleyan at #21. The Big Red will get an early season test when they make a cross-country flight to California to face Pomona-Pitzer and Redlands on Sept. 9-10. Pomona-Pitzer is ranked 15th in the preseason poll and finished 11-5-3 in 2005.Denison will kick off their regular season on Sept. 2 when they face Olivet College in Delaware, Ohio at the annual Big Red/Battling Bishop Invitational.

For a complete listing of the preseason top-25 click on the QuickLink above.