Dupage Policy Journal

North Central has been named the preseason favorite in the 2025 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) women’s soccer race. The announcement follows a poll conducted among league head coaches, with results released by the conference office on Thursday.

The Cardinals received 64 points and eight first-place votes. Last season, North Central finished as runner-up in the regular-season CCIW standings with a 7-1-0 record but went on to win the CCIW Tournament title and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive year.

Carroll University was ranked second in this year’s poll, earning 51 points. Carroll secured its first conference regular-season championship last fall with an undefeated 8-0-0 record and finished with an overall mark of 11-4-3.

Millikin University took third place in the poll with 49 points. The Big Blue ended last season third in the final regular-season standings and have reached the semifinals of the CCIW Tournament for two straight years.

Wheaton College claimed one first-place vote and totaled 43 points, placing fourth in Thursday’s rankings. Wheaton is seeking its first league championship since 2021.

Elmhurst followed with 37 points, while Augustana earned 25 points. North Park collected 24 points, Illinois Wesleyan had 21, and Carthage rounded out the poll with 10 points.

All nine CCIW teams are scheduled to begin their seasons on Friday, Aug. 29. Non-conference play will continue through the campaign’s first four weeks before conference matches start on Saturday, Sept. 27.

"NAPERVILLE — North Central is the preseason favorite of the 2025 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) women’s soccer race, according to the results of a poll submitted by league head coaches and announced by the conference office on Thursday morning."

###