UMAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll topped by St. Scholastica

8/29/2017 2:22:13 AM

ST. PAUL, Minn.---For seven seasons, the College of St. Scholastica has reigned supreme in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) for men's soccer taking the regular season title each year and five-straight postseason championships. The Saints haven't lost a conference regular season game in 110 tries – a NCAA record.

Despite losing some offensive talent, the Saints are predicted to continue their dominance in 2017 taking 63 points and seven first-place votes to top the UMAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced Tuesday.

| Poll | Matchups | Team Previews |

Last season, the Saints went a perfect 8-0-0 but were just 12-8-1 overall and narrowly missed the NCAA tournament – they needed penalty kicks to defeat bridge rival University of Wisconsin-Superior in the conference championship game. However, the Saints showed just how solid they can be as they fell in waning seconds of double overtime to the University of St. Thomas in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. The Tommies later went on to be a Final Four qualifier.

The Saints may have lost its top offensive threat in Kyle Farrar, but the experienced squad returns All-UMAC midfielder Luke Buckton who led the UMAC in goals (9) for conference games in 2016. Second Team selection Armin Bobaric should also help on the front end after a breakout rookie season in which he recorded five assists in league play. Junior Kyle Hewitt will anchor the team's defensive effort along with veteran keeper Sandy davidson-Hunt who missed most of last season due to injury but helped lead the team's tournament-winning effort with 12 saves.

In order to keep their streak alive, the Saints will need to fight off a Wisconsin-Superior squad that is hungry for a league title. The Yellowjackets took second in the poll with 58 points and two first-place votes. A year ago, the Yellowjackets defeated the Saints in a non-conference contest but couldn't find a way to do so when it mattered most. Wisconsin-Superior welcomes back some of the best talent in the league with two-time All-UMAC forward Jon Bucklew leading the charge after recording 15 points in conference games last season. Defensive Player of the Year Hugo Roos and Rookie of the Year Eric Watson also join Bucklew in their quest to take down the Saints' dynasty.

The University of Northwestern was predicted to hold steady at third with 49 points in the poll. The Eagles will need strong defense in order to keep up with the top dogs, meaning senior keeper Turner Main will have to be just as good as last season in which he compiled the second-best save percentage in conference play (.787). Three-time All-UMAC honoree Matthew McCann will front the team's offensive attack as they look to remain in the mix for the postseason and challenge for a title.

The final two postseason positions in the poll were separated by just one point as Martin Luther College and the University of Minnesota Morris collected 37 and 36 points, respectively. The Knights had their best finish since 2008 placing fourth in the league. In order to remain in playoff contention, the Knights will need big performances from Nate Graumann and Joe Graumann who led the league in shots per game (5.13).

Minnesota Morris missed the postseason a year ago for the first time in seven season under Scott Turnbull. The Cougars should make a strong push for a spot in the UMAC tournament with the retuen of Second Team keeper Cody Christ and Honorable Mention midfielder Joshua Bartels who tallied 11 points overall last season.

Crown College wasn't far behind in the poll with 32 points for sixth. The Storm suprised the conference qualifying for the postseason in the final game of the season. The squad should be in a great spot to make another postseason push with senior All-UMAC Storm Heyer returning after being one of the top scorers a year ago.

North Central University comes in seventh with 24 points and just missed the tournament last season with a late-season loss. They will rely heavily on retuning talent from Second Team forwards Josue Boutouli and Ian Brekhus.

Bethany Lutheran College takes eighth with 16 points and will need new incoming talent to lead the charge. Northland College rounds out the poll in ninth with nine points in its first season under new Head Coach Joel Person.

The UMAC men's soccer season kicks off Friday and the non-conference slate isn't a cake walk for these squads as most conference teams will play at least one Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) program, while several have matches scheduled against teams from the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC).

Conference play begins Wednesday, Sept. 13, and that day will see last year's No. 4 Martin Luther take on last year's No. 5 Crown in a game that should have postseason implications. Minnesota Morris will have opportunities to pave their path to the postseason Sept. 16 against Wisconsin-Superior and Sept. 19 versus Northwestern.

Sept 27 will see Crown take on North Central in a must-win for both squads before St. Scholastica will have it's first big test of the conference teason against Northwestern on Sept. 30.

The league's top teams will face off Tuesday, Oct. 3 in a game that could decide the season and champion. Martin Luther will look to gain ground Oct. 14 in facing Wisconsin-Superior before having to square off with Minnesota Morris Oct. 17. That same day, Northwestern will look for a big win against Wisconsin-Superior. The season wraps up Oct. 28.

Complete UMAC Schedule

2017 UMAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. St. Scholastica - 63 points (7 First Place Votes)
2. Wisconsin-Superior - 58 points (2 First Place Votes)
3. Northwestern - 49 points
4. Martin Luther - 37 points
5. Minnesota Morris - 36 points
6. Crown - 32 points
7. North Central - 24 points
8. Bethany Lutheran - 16 points
9. Northland - 9 points

Team Previews

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

Bethany Lutheran College
Rob Pipal | 21st Season |

2016 Season
0-8 UMAC, 0-20 | 9th |

Top Returners
- Jonathan Sehloff, So., M | UMAC Individual Sportsmanship | Started all 20 games in 2017 | 1 goal and 1 assist |
- Samuel Duran, So., F | Played in all 20 contests | Two goals and 1 assist |

Need to Know
Head Coach Rob Pipal will welcome 12 new student-athletes to the 2017 men’s soccer roster including 10 freshmen.

University of Minnesota Morris
Scott Turnbull | 8th Season |

2016 Season
3-5 UMAC record, 4-13 | 7th |

Top Returners
- Cody Christ, Sr., GK | 2014 All-UMAC First Team, UMAC Co-Defensive Player of Year, 2015 All-UMAC First Team, 2016 All-UMAC Second Team | 83 saves, 0.755 save pct., 1.71 GAA, 2 shutouts |
- Joshua Bartels, Sr., MF | 2015 All-UMAC First Team, 2016 All-UMAC HM | 11 points (4G, 3A), 1 GW, 0.235 SH pct. |
- Luqman Barre, Sr., MF | 2015 All-UMAC First Team | 7 points (2G, 3A) |

Need to Know
The Cougars have qualified for UMAC postseason play in six of Turnbull’s seven seasons as head coach.

University of Northwestern
Greg Wheaton | 19th Season |

2016 Season
5-3 UMAC, 8-9-1 | 3rd|
Postseason: Lost in semifinal of UMAC playoffs vs. UW-Superior

Top Returners
- Turner Main, Sr., GK | UMAC All-Conference (2014), UMAC Player of the Week (x3) | 281 career saved goals, six career shut-out contests|
- Matthew McCann, Sr., M | UMAC All-Conference (2014, 2015, 2016), UMAC Academic All-Conference (2014, 2015, 2016), UMAC Rookie of the Year (2014), UMAC Sportsmanship Award (2016), UMAC Player of the Week (x1) | Other Honors | Four Career game-winning goals, 15 Career goals scored, Ranked second on team leaderboard for goals scored in 2016 (5)|
- Derrick Aminga, So., M/F | UMAC All-Conference (2016), UMAC Player of the Week (x1) | Other Honors | Four career goals scored, One career game-winning goal, Ranked fourth on team leaderboard for goals scored in 2016 (4)|
- Mark Cleope, So., F | UMAC All-Conference (2016) | Other Honors | Four career goals scored, Two career game-winning goals, Ranked third on team leaderboard for goals scored in 2016 (4)|

University of Wisconsin-Superior
Joe Mooney | 10th Season |

2016 Season
9-1 UMAC, 13-7-1 | 2nd |
Postseason: Seeded second in UMAC tournament, UMAC Semi-final win 5-1 vs. Northwestern, UMAC Final loss 2-2 (pk shootout 3-2) to St. Scholastica

Top Returners
- Jon Bucklew, Sr., F | All-UMAC 2015, 2016 | NSCAA All-Wisconsin Team (2015 Second Team, 2016 First Team), 2016 and 2017 Team Captain| 16 goals, 7 assists, 39 points (1st in UMAC) |
- Eric Watson, So., F | 2016 UMAC Rookie of the Year | 12 goals, 3 assists, 27 points (6th in UMAC)
- Hugo Roos, Jr., D | All-UMAC 2016, 2016 UMAC Defensive Player of the Year| 2016 NSCAA All-Wisconsin Second Team | 2 goals, 2 assists, 6 points |

Need to Know
In 2016 the team started very cold, going 0-6 in its first 6 games. The team then found its stride and went 13-1-1 in its last 15 games.

Schedule

Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

Conference Members

Conference Members

UMAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll topped by St. Scholastica