Wisconsin-Superior looks to sustain success in 2018, selected first in UMAC men's soccer poll
ST. PAUL, Minn.---Last season, the College of St. Scholastica again dominated the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) in the men's soccer regular season winning an eighth-consecutive championship. However, it was the University of Wisconsin-Superior that got the last say in taking the postseason tournament title in penalty kicks to earn the conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament.
This season, the Yellowjackets are expected to sustain that success and momentum in 2018 as they were selected first in the UMAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced Monday. The Jackets tallied 63 points and seven first place votes from the coaches, while the Saints were picked second with 58 points and two first-place nods.
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Poll |
Team Previews |
2018 Schedule |
Wisconsin-Superior has challenged St. Scholastica in each of its first three seasons since joining the UMAC and finally broke through in 2017 when it mattered the most. The Saints took the regular season match up between the two squads, but this season each team will have a chance to host the other in conference competition which could make the race for the title closer than ever before.
The Yellowjackets reload with talent in 2018 – All-UMAC First Team forwards Eric Watson and Fernando Bicalho return to lead the offense that ranked second in the nation for goals scored last season (75). Blake Doyea was the second-straight Yellowjacket to be named Rookie of the Year – behind Watson in 2016 – and he also returns at forward to help lead a solid incoming class of talent that joins the experienced veterans.
St. Scholastica should not be counted out, though, with the return of two-time All-UMAC midfielder Luke Buckton who led the UMAC in conference assists (10) and points (36). His overall 17 goals were also a UMAC-best and led the Saints' high-powered offense a year ago. All-UMAC First Team defender Trygve Rennan also anchors the Saint defense that led the league in fewest conference goals allowed (6) in 12 games (0.50 GAA).
Since missing the postseason in 2015, the University of Northwestern has finished third in each of the last two seasons and was selected to do so again with 47 points, while the University of Minnesota Morris trailed closely behind with 44 points. Joshua Hintz returns to lead the Eagles' offense after earning All-UMAC Second Team honors last season along with Honorable Mention Derrick Aminga. The Cougars snapped the Saints' NCAA record conference unbeaten streak last season and will hope to make noise again this year behind the experience of First Team mid Gabe Arreguin who had two game-winning goals last season.
Martin Luther College separated itself late in the season to make a second-consecutive postseason trip and was picked for a third with 36 points for fifth in the poll. The Knights return midfielder Joe Graumann who has been among the top scorers in the league each of the last two years. Crown College was tabbed sixth with 29 points and could challenge for a postseason spot with the return of the team's 2016 leading scorers Storm Heyer and Ger Jones who missed 2017 due to injury.
The final three spots were separated by just five points with North Central University taking seventh with 19 points and Bethany Lutheran College and Northland College tying for eighth with 14 points. The Rams return All-UMAC First Team midfielder Josue Boutouli who scored 11 goals last season. Honorable Mention Jonathan Sehloff will lead Bethany Lutheran, while Northland brings back All-UMAC First Team keeper Thomas Whiting.
UMAC soccer teams open up non-conference competition beginning Friday before conference play kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 12. The final date of UMAC regular season contests is Saturday, Oct. 27. The postseason tournament starts Monday, Oct. 29 with the No. 4 vs. No. 5 quarterfinal game. Semifinals will be held Wednesday, Oct. 31 at the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds and the championship is set for Saturday, Nov. 3 at the highest remaining seed. The winner of the UMAC postseason tournament will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA championship.
2018 UMAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Wisconsin-Superior - 63 points (7 First Place Votes)
2. St. Scholastica - 58 points (2 First Place Votes)
3. Northwestern - 47 points
4. Minnesota Morris - 44 points
5. Martin Luther - 36 points
6. Crown - 29 points
7. North Central - 19 points
T-8. Bethany Lutheran - 14 points
T-8. Northland - 14 points
Team Previews
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BLC |
CC |
CSS |
MLC |
NC |
NCU |
UMM |
UNW |
UWS |
Bethany Lutheran College
Rob Pipal | 21st Seasons |
2017 Season
0-10-2 UMAC, 1-16-2 | 9th place |
Top Returners
- Jonathan Sehloff, Jr., M | UMAC Honorable Mention | 3 goals |
- Samuel Duran, Jr., F | UMAC Honorable Mention | 2 goals |
Need to Know
The Vikings will have 16 new players on their roster this season.
Incoming Players
Top incoming players include Nikita Pyatetskiy (defense), Moritz Bruns (keeper), and Tiger Thomas (defense).
The College of St. Scholastica
Barry Chastey | 14th Season |
2017 Season
11-1-0 UMAC, 14-6-1 | 1st |
Postseason: Lost to UW-Superior in PKs in the UMAC Tournament Championship
Top Returners
- Luke Buckton, Sr., M | 2016 & 2017 First Team All-UMAC | 2017 USC First Team All-North Region | 17 Goals, 11 Assists, 7 GW Goals |
- Trygve Rennan, Sr., D | 2017 First Team All-UMAC, 2016 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | Started all 21 games, 6 GA vs. UMAC competition
- Darby Henderson, Sr., F | 2017 Second Team All-UMAC, 2016 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | Other Honors | 7 Goals, 7 Assists, 20 Points |
Need to Know
The Saints saw their NCAA Record 118-game conference unbeaten streak come to an end last season, but still managed to win their eighth consecutive UMAC regular season title.
Crown College
Luke Herbert | 3rd Season |
2017 Season
2-8-2 UMAC, 3-12-2 | 7th |
Top Returners
- Storm Heyer, Sr., F | First Team All-UMAC 16’ | Missed all but two games in 2017 |
- Ger Jones, Sr., F | Second Team All-UMAC 14’, HM ALL-UMAC 15’, 16’ | Missed all but 6 games in 2017 |
- Eli Etzel, Sr., GK | HM All-UMAC 17’ | led UMAC with .816 save percentage |
Need to Know
After leading Crown to a playoff berth in 2016 with a combined 17 goals and 13 assists, Storm Heyer and Ger Jones return after injuries in 2017.
Martin Luther College
Paul Koelpin | 23rd Season |
2017 Season
5-6-1 UMAC, 6-12-1| 5
th |
Postseason: Lost quarterfinal game of UMAC Postseason Tournament at UMM 1-0 in overtime
Top Returners
- Joe Graumann, Jr., M/ | 2016, 17 2nd Team All-UMAC | 8 goals, 18 points, 21 shots on goal |
- Luke Meihack, So., F | 2017 HM All-UMAC | 6 goals, 13 points, 13 shots on goal |
- Josh Koelpin, Sr., M | 1 goal, 3 points, 13 shots on goal |
Need to Know
MLC has reached the UMAC Postseason Tournament in each of the last two seasons.
North Central University
Brian Li | 1st Season|
2017 Season
2-6-4 UMAC, 5-7-4 | 6th |
Top Returners
- Josue Boutouli, Jr., Mid| 2017 UMAC All Conference First Team, 2016 UMAC All Conference Second Team | 11 goals |
- Danny Williams, Sr., M | UMAC All Conference Second Team | 2 goals, 1 assist|
- Gabe Hartwig, Sr., GK |2016 UMAC All Conference Honorable Mention, 2016 NCCAA All American | 83 saves, 0.716 Save %| 2018 Captain|
- Kaleb Smith, Sr., M | 5 goals, 2 assists| 2018 Captain|
Need to Know
North Central will return 10 starters from the 2017 squad and welcome 14 new players.
Northland College
Joel Person | 2nd Season |
2017 Season
1-8-3 UMAC, 2-12-3 | 8th |
Top Returners
- Thomas Whiting, SR, GK | 2017 UMAC First-Team |
- Hector Gaona, SR, M | 2017 UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention |
- Aidan Reilly, SR, D | 2017 UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention
University of Minnesota Morris
Scott Turnbull | 8th Season |
2017 Season
7-4-1 UMAC record, 10-10-1 | 4th |
Postseason: defeated MLC in UMAC quarters, fell to CSS in UMAC semis
Top Returners
- Gabe Arreguin, Jr., M | 2017 First Team All-UMAC | 3 goals, 2 GW goals, 7 points |
- Alex Keller, Sr., D | 2015 HM All-UMAC | 2 assists, 7 SOG, started all 21 games |
- Hugo Castaneda, So., M | started 20 of 21 games, 1 goal, 1 assist |
Need to Know
Last season, the Cougars snapped St. Scholastica’s NCAA record conference unbeaten streak.
University of Northwestern
Greg Wheaton | 19th season |
2017 Season
8-2-2 UMAC, 9-6-3 | 3rd |
Postseason: 2017 UMAC Postseason (Loss vs. Wisconsin-Superior, 2-1)
Top Returners
- Joshua Hintz, So., LW/F | Second Team All-Conference, Player of the Week, Academic All-Conference | 6 goals, 7 assists, 19 points |
- Taylor Modaff, Jr., CM | NCCAA All-Region | 2 goals, 2 assists, 6 points |
- Derrick Aminga, Jr., M/F | All-Conference Honorable Mention| 18 games played, 28 shots, 12 shots-on-goal |
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Joe Mooney | 11th season |
2017 Season
10-1-1, 14-7-2 | 2nd |
Postseason: No. 2 seed in UMAC Playoffs; UMAC Playoff Champions; NCAA tournament appearance (lost in 1st round)
Top Returners
- Fernando Bicalho, Sr., F | All-UMAC (2017); UMAC Playoff MVP (2017) | USC All-Region Second Team; USC All-Wisconsin Second Team | 6 goals, 6 assists, 18 points |
- Eric Watson, Jr., F | All-UMAC (2017); UMAC ROY (2016) | USC All-Wisconsin HM | 12 goals, 27 points, 4 game winning goals |
- Blake Doyea, So., F | UMAC ROY (2017) | 7 goals, 17 points, .625 SOG % |
Need to Know
Led the conference in 2017 in Goals For (75), Goals scored per game (3.261), Goals conceded per game (1.17). Ranked Second in the nation in 2017 for goals scored (75). Ranked sixth in the nation in 2017 for goals scored per game (3.26).