The Ferris State University women's soccer program, which reached the NCAA Division II Final Four for the first time in school history last season, has earned recognition as one of the country's top teams heading into the fall 2023 campaign as the Bulldogs were listed sixth in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason National Rankings.

The Bulldogs were one of only two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) member schools found in the national preseason top 25 along with rival Grand Valley State, which came in eighth.

Overall, the top five teams in front of FSU included Western Washington (#1), West Chester (#2), Columbus State (#3), Colorado School of Mines (#4) and West Florida (#5).

The Bulldogs, who reached the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history a year ago, will embark on a challenging 18-game regular-season slate, which includes nine home contests at the Bulldog Soccer Field.

Ferris State will open its regular-season action at home on Thursday, Aug. 31, against Maryville (Mo.) in regional play starting at 1 p.m. (ET). FSU will host another regional opponent and former conference member in Northwood on Sunday, Sept. 3, as part of the opening weekend homestand. The Bulldogs will honor last year's Midwest Regional Championship squad as part of the contest.

The Bulldogs will begin GLIAC play on the road at GVSU on Friday, Sept. 15, in Allendale. The first conference home tilt is against Northern Michigan on Sept. 22.

Follow coverage of the Bulldogs all season long at FerrisStateBulldogs.com.

The Bulldogs won their first-ever NCAA Regional Championship this past year and earned a national quarterfinal win to move on to the NCAA D2 National Semifinals for the first time in the program's third national tournament appearance. FSU claimed four postseason victories along the way and went 11-3-5 in its final 19 games of the year.