St. Scholastica selected to take seventh-straight UMAC men's soccer title in 2016

8/30/2016 2:21:57 PM

ST. PAUL---ST. PAUL, Minn.---Since 2010, the College of St. Scholastica men’s soccer team hasn’t lost a game – 86-straight to be exact – during the regular season to an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) opponent. In 2016, the UMAC coaches expect much of the same as the Saints were a unanimous choice for first place (64 points) in the UMAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced Tuesday.

| Poll | Matchups | Team Previews |

Under Head Coach Barry Chastey, St. Scholastica has won six-consecutive regular season conference titles and eight of the last nine. The Saints have dominated in the postseason clinching four trips to the NCAA tournament in a row. The Saints narrowly missed advancing to the NCAA second round last season in falling just 1-0 to Macalester College – currently ranked No. 20 in the national preseason poll.

A year ago, the Saints were nearly unstoppable in conference play – they averaged 7.20 goals per game and allowed just one goal in those 10 games. Their gaudy numbers didn’t stop there, though. For the fourth season in a row, the Saints led all of NCAA Division III men’s soccer in goals scored and became the first men’s team in any division to score more than 100 goals in three consecutive seasons.

The Saints’ success in 2015 was due in large part to UMAC Offensive Player of the Year Kyle Farrar who will finish his remarkable career this fall. Farrar led the UMAC in UMAC scoring (34 points) and overall scoring (58 points) earning him First Team All-America honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Farrar led the league with 15 goals in conference play and added his third All-UMAC First Team honor and third-career All-Region honor. The Saints’ star won’t be the only contributor from last season who will should make an impact – Jonny Harkin and Shawayne Folkes both return after tallying 20 points each in conference games last season.

The trio of Saints’ forwards will need to fill some significant holes after losing some notable characters from 2015. Four-year All-UMAC selection Tom Corcoran graduated with 165 points in a Saints uniform and was twice selected as an All-Region selection. He was second in scoring behind Farrar with 24 points in his senior campaign.

Sean Morgan will also be missing from the Saints’ roster after finishing as the 2015 UMAC Tournament MVP. Morgan was third in conference scoring (23 points) and led in assists (15). He ranked second in the nation in assists in each of his final three seasons. The Saints will also need to fill the back line with strong players to replace All-UMAC defender Ben Phillips.

The Saints had seven players record 10 or more points in conference games last season and they all ranked in the top eight in the UMAC for scoring. Of those seven players, Corcoran and Morgan are the only two lost to graduation – so the Saints should be in solid position to hold on to the UMAC title in 2016.

That is, however, if they can hold off a talented University of Wisconsin-Superior squad that was picked second (57 points) after claiming that same spot in the standings in the programs’ UMAC debut a year ago. The Yellowjackets went 8-2 in league play and were the lone UMAC team to tally a goal against the Saints in 2015.

This season, the Yellowjackets may be in even better position to challenge the Saints for reign over the UMAC. Before that happens, Head Coach Joe Mooney will need several players to step up to fill the gaps after losing UMAC Defensive Player of the Year Joey Gustafson and All-UMAC First Team pick Trevor Laroche-Theune. Gustafson scored 12 points overall and helped the Yellowjackets boast a 0.70 goals against average (GAA) in conference games, while Laroche-Theune was seventh in the UMAC for scoring (14 points) in league play.

Fortunately for Mooney, three of his top scorers from last year return in Jon Bucklew, Ryan Wisdom and Reyman Solis. Bucklew garnered First Team honors after scoring 18 points overall, while Wisdom and Solis were Second Team choices with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Additionally, the Yellowjackets will welcome back Gio Rodriguez who was the 2014 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Co-Player of the Year before transferring last season to a Division II program.

The last time the Saints didn’t win a UMAC title, it was the University of Minnesota Morris that emerged victorious. The Cougars are again expected to be a contender with the third (48 points) pick in the poll, while the University of Northwestern was just behind in fourth with 45 points.

The Cougars have finished in the UMAC top three each season since 2007 and should be in the mix with several All-UMAC players back for a total of nine starters returning. In goal, the Cougars will rely heavily on two-time First-Team pick Cody Christ who boasted an impressive .833 save percentage and 0.86 GAA in conference games in 2015. In the midfield, First Teamers Josh Bartels and Luqman Barre are back to anchor the offense. Last season Bartels led the Cougars in scoring with 12 points in conference games – ninth most among all UMAC players.

A year ago, Northwestern missed qualifying for the UMAC postseason for just the second time since 2001, but should make a push for one of the final spots in 2016. The Eagles lose just four starters and return a plethora of talent including All-UMAC selections Matthew McCann and Eric Fast in the midfield. Both players tied for the team lead in conference points (6). Turner Main will anchor the Eagles in goal after recording a 1.84 GAA in conference games last season.

Bethany Lutheran College won its first playoff game in program history in 2015 and should have another chance at bettering the feat in 2016 – the Vikings were selected fifth with 32 points, while Martin Luther College was sixth (27 points) and North Central University was seventh (23 points).

The Vikings lost six starters in the off-season including Second Team All-UMAC honoree Jorge Perez who led the team in scoring with 16 points overall. Kenny Johnson should ignite the Vikings’ attack after tallying five overall goals as a rookie, while 2015 Honorable Mention Matt Bitter will anchor the defense after recording a .761 conference save percentage last year.

Martin Luther could challenge Bethany Lutheran for the final playoff spot with the return of 2015 UMAC Freshman of the Year Aaron Swanson. As a rookie, Swanson recorded the most goals by a Vikings player since 2008 (11). He will be joined offensively by senior Aaron Markgraf who earned Second Team honors in 2015 after scoring seven goals.

North Central finished a solid fourth last season and hosted the Vikings in the postseason, but the UMAC coaches’ put the Rams on the outside looking in following the loss of two offensive threats and goalkeeper Andrew Eliason. First Team selection David Afolabi will hold down the team defensively, while Ian Brekhus will need to lead the offense.

The UMAC coaches agreed on Crown College to finish eighth (17 points) while Northland College was ninth (11 points). Crown returns over 75 percent of its goals from a year ago including Ger Jones who tallied seven as a sophomore. Justin Steinkamp will also be important to the Storm’s success offensively. Northland loses All-UMAC keeper Colton Schreyer, but looks to see production from Hector Gaona who was second in goals on the team as a rookie.

Over the course of the first 11 days of the season, UMAC squads will get in to non-conference action with St. Scholastica, Wisconsin-Superior and Minnesota Morris slated to face some of the top teams from the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC).

Conference play begins Tuesday, Sept. 13, while the first intriguing matchup of the year comes that Saturday, Sept. 17 as Northwestern and St. Scholastica meet in Duluth, Minnesota, while North Central and Bethany Lutheran will do battle in a game with possible playoff implications.

The top game of the year comes just a few days later on Sept. 21 when St. Scholastica and Wisconsin-Superior will face off in a game to determine the title. Southern rivals Martin Luther and Bethany Lutheran also matchup that day with more playoff hopes on the line.

Oct. 1 features Minnesota Morris taking on St. Scholastica and Northwestern and Bethany Lutheran squaring off. Playoff seeding will be determined over the final three weeks with top-four teams taking each other on. The season wraps Oct. 28 with Northwestern and Minnesota Morris headlining the final day.

Complete UMAC Schedule

2016 UMAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. St. Scholastica - 64 points (8 First Place Votes)
2. Wisconsin-Superior - 57 points (1 First Place Vote)
3. Minnesota Morris - 48 points
4. Northwestern - 45 points
5. Bethany Lutheran - 32 points
6. Martin Luther - 27 points
7. North Central - 23 points
8. Crown - 17 points
9. Northland - 11 points

Team Previews

| BLC | CC | CSS | MLC | NC | NCU | UMM | UNW | UWS |

1. College of St. Scholastica
Barry Chastey | 12th Season |

2015 Season
10-0-0 UMAC, 18-3-1 Overall | 1st |
Postseason: Lost to Macalester 1-0 in the First Round of the NCAA Division III Tournament

Starters returning: 6
Starters lost: 6

Top Returners
- Kyle Farrar, Sr., F | 2015 UMAC Offensive Player of the Year; 2015, 2014, 2011 First Team All-UMAC | 2015 NSCAA First Team All-American; 2014, 2015 NSCAA First Team All-North Region, 2011 NSCAA Second Team All-North Region | 24 Goals, 58 points, 10 Assists |
- Jonny Harkin, So., F | 2015 Second Team All-UMAC | 38 Points, 16 Goals |
- Shawayne Folkes, Sr., F | 2015 First Team All-UMAC; 2014 Honorable Mention All-UMAC; 2014 UMAC Tournament MVP | 5 GW goals, 27 Points, 12 Goals |

Top Losses
- Tom Corcoran, M | 2015, 2014, 2013 First Team All-UMAC | 2015 Second Team NSCAA All-North Region; 2014, 2013 Third Team NSCAA All-North Region | 165 career points, 45 Points in 2015, Program-record 9 PK goals in 2015 |
- Sean Morgan, M | 2015, 2013 Second Team All-UMAC; 2014 First Team All-UMAC, 2015 UMAC Tournament MVP | 73 career assists, Finished second in the nation in assists in each of his final three seasons, 143 career points|
- Ben Phillips, D | 2015 First Team All-UMAC, 2014 Second Team All-UMAC | Started all 21 games in 2015, 4 assists |

Need to Know
- The Saints are unbeaten in their last 86 UMAC regular season games.
- Kyle Farrar was the program’s first NSCAA NCAA First Team All-American in 2015.
- The Saints have led the NCAA in scoring in each of the last four seasons and became the first NCAA men’s soccer team in any division to record at least 100 goals three straight seasons.

2. University of Wisconsin-Superior
Joe Mooney | 9th Season |

2015 Season
8-2 UMAC, 16-6 Overall | 2nd |
Postseason: 1-0 win over Minnesota Morris in UMAC Semifinals; 0-5 loss to St. Scholastica in UMAC Championship

Starters returning: 6
Starters lost: 5

Top Returners
- Jon Bucklew, Jr., F | 2015 First Team All-UMAC | All-Wisconsin Second Team | 8 G, 18 PTS, 30 SOG |
- Ryan Wisdom, Sr., D | 2015 Second Team All-UMAC| All-Wisconsin Honorable Mention | 6 G, 4 A, 16 PTS |
- Reyman Solis, Jr., M | 2015 Second Team All-UMAC | All-Wisconsin Second Team | 8 A, 14 PTS, 24 SOG |

Top Losses
- Joey Gustafson, D | 2015 UMAC Def. POY; First Team All-UMAC| NSCAA All-North Region Second Team; All-Wisconsin First Team | 5 G, 12 PTS, .200 Shot Pct. |
- Trevor Laroche-Theune, F | 2015 First Team All-UMAC; UMAC Sportsmanship Team | Wisconsin Co-Off. POY; All-Wisconsin First Team | 8 G, 21 PTS, 5 GWG |
- Trent Holmes, D | 2015 All-UMAC Honorable Mention| 22 GP, 2 G, 4 PTS |

Need to Know
- Last season the Yellowjackets set a school record for wins in a season with 16.
- Six of the top eight scorers from last year return.
- Gio Rodriguez, who was WIAC Co-Player of the Year in 2014 and transferred to a Division II school in California last season has returned to the Yellowjackets.

3. University of Minnesota Morris
Scott Turnbull | 7th Season |

2015 Season
5-4-1 UMAC, 5-13-2 Overall | 3rd |
Postseason: 2015 Semifinal Loss vs Superior 0-1

Starters returning: 9
Starters lost: 2

Top Returners
- Cody Christ, Jr., GK | 2014, 2015 First Team All-UMAC; 2014 UMAC Co-Defensive POY |1.81 GAA, 85 Saves, .746 SV% T-4th in UMAC |
- Luqman Barre, Jr., MF | 2015 First Team All-UMAC |17 SOG, Started 17 of 20 games, .415 SOG% |
- Josh Bartels, Jr., MF | 2015 First Team All-UMAC |Led Team 13 points, 5 G/3 A, .364 SOG% |

Top Losses
- Shingo Yamane, D/MF | 2014, 2015 First Team All-UMAC; 2013 Second Team All-UMAC | 2014 NSCAA Second Team All-Region | 13 SOG, .325 SOG% |
- Jacob Gindt, D | 2015 Honorable Mention, 2014 First Team All-UMAC | 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-District, 2014 NSCAA Scholar All-Region Honorable Mention | Started all 20 Games, 1840 Min. Played |
- Victor Aanerud, F |.50 SOG%, .167 Shot% |

Need to Know
- Since 2007 UMM has finished top-three in the regular season.
- In the eight seasons prior to the new conference format, the Cougars won eight or more conference games.
- Young team with experienced sophomore and junior classes.

4. University of Northwestern
Greg Wheaton | 16th Season|

2015 Season
4-5-1 UMAC, 5-11-1 Overall| 6th |

Starters returning: 7
Starters lost: 4

Top Returners
- Matthew McCann, Jr., M | 2014, 2015 First Team All-UMAC; Offensive Player of the Week - 10/14/14 | 10 Career Goals, 46 Career Shots on Goal, 4 Career Game-Winning Goals |
- Turner Main, Jr., GK | 2014 Second Team All-UMAC; 2014 3rd in GAA, Led UMAC for GA; 2014 UMAC Defensive Player of the Week - 11/5/14 | 111 Career Saves, 9 Career Wins, 4 Career Shutouts |
- Eric Fast, Sr., M | 2013 First Team All-UMAC; 2014, 2015 Second Team All-UMAC | 11 Career Goals, 46 Career Shots on Goal, 4 Career Game-Winning Goals |

Top Losses
- Mark Habeck, M | 2015 Second Team All-UMAC, 2014 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | 4 Career Goals, 40 Career Shots, 1 Career Game Winning Goal |
- Sean Denniston, M| 2012, 2014, 2015 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | 2 Career Goals, 28 Career Shots, 1 Career Game Winning Shot |

Need to Know
- Three returners were awarded 2015 UMAC All-Conference Honors (Matthew McCann – First Team, Joshua Fryc - First Team, Eric Fast - Second Team).

6. Martin Luther College
Paul Koelpin | 21st Season |

2015 Season
3-6-1 UMAC, 7-10-1 Overall | 7th |

Starters returning: 8
Starters lost: 3

Top Returners
- Aaron Swanson, So., F | 2015 UMAC Freshman of the Year; 2015 Second Team All-UMAC | 11 goals, 4 assists |
- Aaron Markgraf, Sr., M | 2015 Second Team All-UMAC | 7 goals, 1 assist |
- Caleb King, Jr., GK | 18 starts, 2.63 GAA, .737 save pct. |

Top Losses
- Micah Koelpin, D | 2015 Second Team All-UMAC | 18 starts, 1 goal |
- Wesley Towne, D | 18 starts |
- Jacob Zietlow, D | 16 starts |

Need to Know
- Aaron Swanson’s 11 goals in his rookie season were fifth-most in the UMAC in 2015, and were the most by an MLC player since the 2008 season.
- Senior Aaron Markgraf enters his final season with 22 career goals, sixth-most in program history.
- The Knights will look to take their top game on the road this season after finishing 2015 with a 6-4-0 record at home compared to a 1-6-1 record on the road.

8. Crown College
Luke Herbert (1st Season)

2015 Season
2-6-2 UMAC, 2-12-4 Overall| 8th |

Starters returning: 7
Starters lost: 4

Top Returners
- Ger Jones, Jr., M | 7 goals, 2 assists |
- Josiah Steinkamp, Jr., M | 2 goals, 2 assists |
- Justin Lao, Junior, GK | 2 wins, 2 draws, 1 shutout |

Top Losses
- Nolan Peterson, M
- David Jensen, M | 2 goals, 1 assist |
- Bradley Ray, D

Need to Know
- Crown’s Luke Herbert took over the program on July 29.
- Crown returns 75 percent of their goals from a year ago.
- Crown’s roster of 23 players features 15 returners.

Schedule

Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

Conference Members

Conference Members

St. Scholastica selected to take seventh-straight UMAC men's soccer title in 2016