Three Land on Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch List
2/17/2021 12:12:00 PM | Women's Soccer
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten announced its Women's Soccer Preseason Players to Watch List on Wednesday with sophomore Avery Lockwood and freshmen Anna Aehling and Jen Blitchok representing Indiana. In addition, the preseason poll was unveiled with the Hoosiers coming in in eighth place. Both were voted on by the conference coaches.
Lockwood, a midfielder from Grand Rapids, Mich., was also named to the Preseason Players to Watch List last season and delivered as she started every game and led the team in points (13), goals (5) and game-winners (3). She was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team last year, as well as Top Drawer Soccer's Top 100 Freshmen list. Lockwood also appeared on Top Drawer's Team of the Week on Oct. 8, 2019.
Aehling, a defender from Coesfeld, Germany, has competed for her country multiple times, including in the U17 UEFA European Championship, U17 FIFA World Cup and U19 UEFA European Championship.
Fellow freshman Blitchok joins the Hoosiers as a forward from Grandville, Mich. She saw great success at the club level, leading Midwest United FC to a U18/19 U.S. Soccer DA Championship. She was also an All-State and All-Conference selection from Grandville High School.
The Hoosiers open the season this Saturday at Northwestern at 7 p.m. Indiana will play an 11-game conference only slate this season.
2020-21 BIG TEN WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
1. Penn State
2. Wisconsin
3. Michigan
4. Rutgers
5. Ohio State
6. Iowa
7. Northwestern
8. Indiana
9. Nebraska
10. Illinois
11. Purdue
12. Maryland
13. Minnesota
14. Michigan State
Lockwood, a midfielder from Grand Rapids, Mich., was also named to the Preseason Players to Watch List last season and delivered as she started every game and led the team in points (13), goals (5) and game-winners (3). She was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team last year, as well as Top Drawer Soccer's Top 100 Freshmen list. Lockwood also appeared on Top Drawer's Team of the Week on Oct. 8, 2019.
Aehling, a defender from Coesfeld, Germany, has competed for her country multiple times, including in the U17 UEFA European Championship, U17 FIFA World Cup and U19 UEFA European Championship.
Fellow freshman Blitchok joins the Hoosiers as a forward from Grandville, Mich. She saw great success at the club level, leading Midwest United FC to a U18/19 U.S. Soccer DA Championship. She was also an All-State and All-Conference selection from Grandville High School.
The Hoosiers open the season this Saturday at Northwestern at 7 p.m. Indiana will play an 11-game conference only slate this season.
2020-21 BIG TEN WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
1. Penn State
2. Wisconsin
3. Michigan
4. Rutgers
5. Ohio State
6. Iowa
7. Northwestern
8. Indiana
9. Nebraska
10. Illinois
11. Purdue
12. Maryland
13. Minnesota
14. Michigan State
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
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