Finishing with 160 of 169 possible points, Miami (Ohio) was picked to win its first regular-season Mid-American Conference title by the league coaches in the 2001 preseason poll, receiving nine first-place votes. The Red Hawks, who return All-MAC first-team member Andrea Cunningham, finished tied for third in the 2000 regular-season with a mark of 7-4. After winning their first tournament championship, Miami advanced to the first round of the NCAA, before falling 4-3 in double overtime to the Michigan. Central Michigan finished second in the balloting with 142 points and one first-place vote. Tying for third during the 2000 MAC season, the Chippewas concluded with an overall mark split at 10-10. Also receiving a nod for the top spot in the poll was Ohio. The Bobcats earned the third spot, garnering 134 points and two first-place votes. Ohio rounded out the three-way regular season tie for third and an entire season record of 10-9. Eastern Michigan finished fourth in the voting with 131 points. Although the Eagles lost 2000 MAC Player of the Year, Tracey Deeter, to graduation, EMU returns three All-MAC first team-members — Kate Lewis, Courtney Sindelar and Amanda Kulikowski — from a team that went 8-3 in the MAC and concluded the 2000 season in second place. Buffalo, the defending regular-season champion, finished fifth with 128 points and one vote for first place. With a 2000 record of 8-2-1, the Bulls will return two league-leading goalkeepers in Emily Cox and Jaime Adams, who both had goals against averages of 0.97. Finishing sixth in the poll was Bowling Green, who earned 105 points. Concluding with a MAC mark of 5-5-1, the Falcons advanced in the post-season to the championship game of the MAC Tournament, before falling to Miami 1-0 in double overtime. Western Michigan garnered 91 points to claim seventh in the poll. The Broncos finished 2000 with a 5-4-2 mark, behind All-MAC first-team member Megan Ramey, who returns to the net. Marshall received 81 points and the eighth spot. The Herd returns MAC Newcomer of the Year in Andrea McMahon, the league leader in points per match last season with 1.88. Behind Marshall in ninth-place is Kent State, who tallied 61 points, and Ball State in tenth, with 54 points. Rounding out the 2001 coaches poll are Toledo, Northern Illinois and Akron. Toledo tallied 40 points, behind the league leader in goals, Corrie Hasenjager, who hit 15 balls past the netminders during 2000. Only one point behind is Northern Illinois, who gained 39 points. Akron, a newcomer to women’s soccer, closes out the poll with 17 points. Miami was also picked as the favorite to return as the MAC Tournament champion, receiving six votes in win the title game. Central Michigan and Ohio earned three votes apiece and Bowling Green snatched the final vote. 2001 MAC Preseason Poll (Regular Season) 1. Miami (9) 160 2. Central Michigan (1) 142 3. Ohio (2) 134 4. Eastern Michigan 131 5. Buffalo (1) 128 6. Bowling Green 105 7. Western Michigan 91 8. Marshall 81 9. Kent State 61 10. Ball State 54 11. Toledo 40 12 Northern Illinois 39 13. Akron 17