Yellowjackets are unanimous favorite to win 2019 UMAC men's soccer title

Yellowjackets are unanimous favorite to win 2019 UMAC men's soccer title

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ST. PAUL, Minn.---The University of Wisconsin-Superior men's soccer team had an unprecedented season for the program winning the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) regular season title in unbeaten fashion before becoming the first conference program to win a NCAA postseason tournament game in the opening round of regionals. 

With a ton of talent set to return for the Yellowjackets, the conference coaches unanimously selected them first with 64 points and eight first-place votes in the 2019 UMAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll announced Tuesday. The College of St. Scholastica was a unanimous second garnering 57 points and one first-place nod.

| Poll | Team Previews | 2019 Schedule |

Wisconsin-Superior lost its first two games of the regular season in 2018 before going on a 20-game unbeaten streak with their first loss coming in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Yellowjackets boast a very difficult schedule heading into the season which should position them well for a chance at another conference title and continued postseason success. However, the historically-strong Saints will look to challenge them this fall as the only team to put a blemish on the 'Jackets record in the UMAC with a tie to open conference play. 

The Yellowjackets will not be short on talent with senior forwards James Bruce and Eric Watson set to return to the lineup. Bruce led the team in scoring with 16 goals and 37 points en route to All-UMAC First Team and Tournament MVP honors. Watson was a Second Team selection with 16 points last season. Blake Perry is also back offensively after being named the UMAC Rookie of the Year, while UMAC Defensive Player of the Year A.J. Olson will anchor the defense that allowed just nine goals in 12 conference games in 2018. 

While the Yellowjackets have become the "Team to Beat" in the UMAC, St. Scholastica continues to have a strong team with good returners who could help them look for an upset under the new single-round schedule for 2019. The Saints bring back All-UMAC First Team froward Armin Bobaric who tallied 19 points last year. Additionally, Honorable Mention selections Jordan Finneran and Taylor Tran are back to add depth for the Saints. 

Just three points separate the next three teams hoping to get into the UMAC postseason with Martin Luther College third (41), the University of Northwestern fourth (39) and the University of Minnesota Morris fifth (38). The Knights were third a year ago and will look to continue their success with the return of UMAC Offensive Player of the Year Joe Graumann who scored 12 goals last year. 

Northwestern missed the postseason last year and dropped all the way to eighth in the standings. The coaches expect the Eagles to soar back up the standings with all-conference honorees Joshua Hintz and Derrick Aminga set to return and lead the team offensively. Minnesota Morris has also been a postseason staple and will look to keep that alive with Honorable Mention pick Gabe Arreguin set to lead the offense.

Bethany Lutheran College was slated sixth with 33 points while Crown College was tabbed seventh with 26 points. The Vikings will be under new leadership this season with Derrick Lyngholm moving from the women's program over to the men's team. The Vikings hope to find continued success with 2018 leading scorer Samuel Duran back for his senior year. Crown is not expected to get back to the tournament but they'll give it their best effort with veteran Mason Shrewsberry returning after an Honorable Mention season last fall. 

North Central University and Northland College rounded out the standings in eighth (18) and ninth (8), respectively. The Rams return Honorable Mention Riley Loukinen and the 'Jacks have back Austin Stuckart. Both teams will look for continued improvement. 

UMAC men's soccer teams open up non-conference competition beginning Friday, Aug. 30 before regularly-scheduled conference play officially kicks off Saturday, Sept. 28. The final date of UMAC regular season contests is Wednesday, Oct. 30. The postseason tournament starts Monday, Nov. 4 with the No. 4 vs. No. 5 quarterfinal game. Semifinals will be held Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds and the championship is set for Saturday, Nov. 9 at the highest remaining seed. The winner of the UMAC postseason tournament will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA championship. 
 

2019 UMAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Wisconsin-Superior - 64 points (8 First Place Votes)
2. St. Scholastica - 57 points (1 First Place Votes)
3. Martin Luther - 41 points
4. Northwestern - 39 points
5. Minnesota Morris - 38 points
6. Bethany Lutheran - 33 points
7. Crown - 26 points
8. North Central - 18 points
9. Northland - 8 points
 

Team Previews

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

Bethany Lutheran College
Derick Lyngholm | 1st Season|
 
2018 Season
3-6-3 UMAC, 7-9-3 | 7th |
 
Top Returners
  • Samuel Duran, Sr., F | Team’s leading scorer (6 goals), led team in assists (13), career leader in PKs |
  • Jonathan Sehloff, Sr., M | Team’s second-leading scorer (5 goals), second in points (11), third in career PKs |
  • Moritz Bruns, Sr., GK | Team’s top keeper, logged 1278 minutes last season in the net,  career leader in goals against average |
 
Need to Know
Coach Lyngholm enters his first season at the helm of the men’s program … he is a 1997 Bethany alum and was a two two-year starter as the keeper for the Vikings from 1995-96. In 1995, he started every game and helped lead the team to a 14-3-1 record and a #15 national ranking.
 
 
The College of St. Scholastica
Barry Chastey | 15th Season |
 
2018 Season
9-2-1 UMAC, 11-8-2 | 2nd |
Postseason: L 3-1 to UW-Superior in UMAC Tournament Championship
 
Top Returners
  • Armin Bobaric, Sr., CM | 2018 First Team All-UMAC; 2016 Second Team All-UMAC | 8 Goals, 3 Assists, 19 Points|
  • Jordan Finneran, So., M | 2018 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | 6 Goals, 7 Assists, 13 Points |
  • Taylor Tran, So., D | 2018 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | 2 Assists |
  • Malcolm Lumsden, Sr., F | 8 Goals, 3 Assists, 19 Points |
 
Need to Know
2018 marked the first year the Saints failed to win either the UMAC regular season or tournament championship under Coach Chastey.
 
  
Crown College
Luke Herbert | 4th season |


2018 Season
6-6 UMAC, 6-13-2 | 5th |
Postseason: Tied #4 UM-Morris 2-2, adv. on PKs, lost to #1 UW-Superior 2-6

Top Returners

  • Mason Shrewsbury, Sr., M | 2018 All-UMAC Honorable Mention | 4 goals, 2 assists, 38 shots |
  • Harvey Holcombe, Sr., D | 1 goal, 11 games started (14 played) helping lead a Storm defense which allowed the third least goals in UMAC play |
  • Deven Cairns, Jr., M | 8 games started, 18 games played |


Need to Know
Last season, team set a NCAA-era school record for winningest season.

 
 
Martin Luther College
Paul Koelpin | 24th season |
 
2018 Season
7-3-2 UMAC, 8-9-2 | 3rd |
Postseason: Lost in semi-final round of UMAC Championships at St. Scholastica 4-1
 
Top Returners
  • Joe Graumann, Sr., F | 2018 UMAC Off. Player of the Year; 2018 1st TM All-UMAC; 2016, 17 2nd TM All-UMAC | 2018: 3rd TM All-North Region by USC | 2018 Stats: 12 goals, 8 assists, 81 total shots |
  • Jon Pedersen, Jr., M | 2018 Stats: 3 goals, 6 points, 8 SOG |
  • Nathan Lemke, Sr., B | 2018 Stats: 19 games, 11 starts, 3 assists |
 
Need to Know
Joe Graumann is the first MLC men’s soccer player to be named UMAC Offensive Player of the Year since the conference became a member of NCAA Division III in 2008.
 
North Central University
Brian Li | 2nd season|
 
2018 Season
4-6-2 UMAC, 14-7-2 Overall
 
Top Returners
  • Riley Loukinen, Sr., D | UMAC Honorable Mention | 2 goals
  • Henry Puchuela, Sr., M | NCCAA All Tournament Team | 5 goals, 6 assists
 
Need to Know
The Rams finished the 2018 season on seven straight wins, capturing the NCCAA Division II National Championship. They’ll welcome 10 new recruits for 2019.
 
Northland College
Northland College
Greg Gilmore | 1st Season |
 
2018 Season
0-12 UMAC, 1-15-1 | 9th |
 
Top Returners
  • Austin Stuckart, Sr., D | UMAC Honorable Mention | 2 Assists |
  • Jonah Evans, So., D |
  • Jesse Kahn, Sr., F/W
 
Need to Know
Northland will be a young team with more new players than returning players.
 
 
University of Minnesota Morris
Scott Turnbull | 10th Season |
 
2018 Season
6-4-2 UMAC, 6-11-4 | 4th |
Postseason: Advanced to the UMAC Tournament as No. 4 seed.
 
  • Top Returners
    Gabe Arreguin, Sr., M/F | 2018 Academic All-Conference, 2018 Honorable Mention All-Conference, 2017 First Team All-Conference | Started 16 games, two goals, one assist |
  • Devon Thompson, Jr., D | 2018 Honorable Mention All-Conference | Started all 21 games for the Cougars in 2018, recorded 10 shot attempts |
  • Jake Peterson, Jr., G | UMAC Defensive Player of the Week (9/10/18) | Played in 12 games, started three contests, recorded three shutouts |
 
 
University of Northwestern
Greg Wheaton | 20th Season |
 
2018 Season
2-9-1 UMAC, 4-14-1 | 8th |
 
Top Returners
  • Joshua Hintz, Jr., F | All-Conference Second Team, Offensive Player of the Week| one A, 11 Sh, five SOG
  • Derrick Aminga, Sr., M | Two-Time All-Conference Honorable Mention, Player of the Week | three G, one A, 12 SOG
  • Austin Gunkel, Jr., GK | 50 Saves, 28 GA |

University of Wisconsin-Superior
Joe Mooney | 12th Season |
 
2018 Season
11-0-1 UMAC, 19-3-1 | 1st |
Postseason: No. 1 seed in UMAC Tournament, Won, 6-2, vs. Crown; Won, 3-1, vs. St. Scholastica; Won, 2-1, vs. Augsburg in NCAA First Round, Lost, 5-0, vs. St. Thomas in NCAA Second Round
 
Top Returners
  • James Bruce | Sr. | F| UMAC Tournament MVP, All-UMAC First Team | Scored three goals and one assist in UMAC tournament | Scored one goal in NCAA Tournament | Led team with 16 goals, five assists for 37 points | All-Region Second Team, 19 goals, eight assists, 46 points in his career
  • Eric Watson | Sr. | F | Scored goals in semifinal and final of UMAC Tournament  | 2016 UMAC Freshman of the Year, two-time All-UMAC player (2016 honorable mention, 2017 First Team, 2018 Second Team) | All-Region third Team | Four goals, eight assists, 16 points in 2018 | 28 goals, 16 assists, 72 points in his career (nine goals, 20 points behind Jon Bucklew’s UWS career record of 37 goals, 18 assists, 92 points)  | Two-year captain 2018 and 2019
  • A.J. Olson | Jr. | D | 2018 UMAC Defender of the Year | Anchored UMAC-leading defense that allowed 1.22 goals per game and 0.75 goals per game in conference.
  • Blake Perry | So. | F | 2018 Freshman of the Year | 10 goals, three assists, 23 points
 
Need to Know
  • After losing the first two games in 2018, UWS went on a 20-game unbeaten streak (19-0-1) before its loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Yellowjackets came from behind five times to win games in that stretch. 
  • 46-of-69 (67 percent) goals scored in 2018 were scored by returners