St. Scholastca nips Minnesota-Morris for preseason favorite in men's soccer
ST. PAUL (Aug. 28, 2008) – The 2008 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) men’s soccer preseason coaches poll reflected the outcome of 2007, as the College of St. Scholastica nipped the University of Minnesota-Morris as the preseason favorite. St. Scholastica, who earned 47 overall points and five first place votes, won their third UMAC regular season title in four years in 2007. The Saints return seven starters from a year ago, including sophomore Toby Peter (Spalt, Germany), who won conference Player of the Year honors after a 10-goal and 32-point season.
Minnesota-Morris, who earned 45 points and three first place votes in the poll, return all but one starter from last year’s 15-4-2 campaign. Fresh off a trip to Brazil as a team, the Cougars return Patrick O’Connor (Ham Lake, Minn.) and Mattson Towley (Alexandria, Minn.), both of whom tallied over 30 points in 2007.
Northwestern College, owners of a 7-5-2 record in UMAC play and fourth place in the conference in 2007, was picked to finish third in the poll, earning 36 points. The Eagles lost six starters from last year’s squad, and will look to finish games after seven of their conference contests were decided by a goal or less in 2007.
Bethany Lutheran claimed fourth place in the preseason coaches poll, netting 26 points. The Vikings hope to rebound after a 5-6-3 UMAC finish in 2007, and will have eight starters returning to the pitch to accomplish that feat. Sophomore goalkeeper Will Tatge (Lowell, Ind.) is one of those returning players who was selected to the UMAC’s All-Conference first team after a 101-save season.
Presentation College, who finished second in the 2007 UMAC standings, earned 24 points in the 2008 poll for fifth place. The Saints will take a different direction this season with new head coach Steve Cogley, who also coaches Presentation’s women’s team. Presentation has six starters returning from a year ago.
Crown College, Martin Luther College and Northland College matched last year’s conference finish as the poll’s bottom three teams, receiving 19, 16 and 11 points, respectively. Crown returns 10 starters from 2007, including all-conference selection Nathan Budish (Andover, Minn.).
After each team competes in non-conference action, the UMAC schedule will begin on Sept. 10.
Preseason Poll Results
1. College of St. Scholastica - 47 points (5 FPV)
2. University of Minnesota-Morris - 45 points (3)
3. Northwestern College - 36 points
4. Bethany Lutheran College - 26 points
5. Presentation College - 24 points
6. Crown College - 19 points
7. Martin Luther College - 16 points
8. Northland College - 11 points