MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Aug. 8, 2012) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team topped the Horizon League preseason coaches' poll for the 13th consecutive year, the league office announced Wednesday.

The Panthers garnered five possible first-place votes and were tied atop the poll with Detroit, as both teams received 44 points. The Titans, who finished second in the league behind Milwaukee in 2011, finished with the remaining three first-place votes. Coaches of the eight league schools cannot vote for their own team.

Valparaiso was picked third with 35 points, edging Wright State with 34 points. WSU advanced to the league title game last season, falling to UWM 5-1. Cleveland State was picked fifth with 24 points, while Loyola (23 points), Green Bay (12) and Youngstown State (8) rounded out the poll.

Milwaukee has won the last 12 league regular season titles. The Panthers have also claimed the last four league tournament titles. They return six starters from last season's 19-3 team that finished a perfect 8-0 in league play, but are without the school and league's all-time leading scorer in Sarah Hagen who completed her eligibility last season.

UWM, which is receiving votes in the NSCAA Preseason National Poll released Tuesday, kicks off its regular season Aug. 17, hosting No. 24 South Carolina.