ST. PAUL, Minn.---The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) has been dominated in men’s soccer for the last three seasons by the University of Wisconsin-Superior. As the league prepares for a return to soccer in the fall for the first time in two years following the COVID-19 pandemic, nothing is expected to change as the Yellowjackets were a unanimous selection for first with 49 points and seven first-place nods in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced Tuesday.
The Yellowjackets won their third-consecutive regular season title in the shortened spring season in May and a fourth-straight postseason title. In the last three seasons, the Yellowjackets have gone unbeaten in conference play and show no signs of stopping. They return three-time All-UMAC forward Blake Perry who tallied 13 goals in the spring as well as Protus Babya who was also First Team with six goals. UMAC Defensive Player of the Year Scott Wilson is back to anchor the solid defense for the Jackets.
Bethany Lutheran College has shown a recent surge to the top of the conference under third-year head coach Derick Lyngholm. The Vikings were second this spring and are predicted to finish as runner up with 43 points and one first-place vote. Two-time First Team All-UMAC pick and the spring’s Offensive Player of the Year in Max Busch will help lead the Vikings to success after tallying 19 goals. He is among six of the top eight scorers from the spring who return, as is All-UMAC pick Cameron Brookfield.
Northland College was solidly in third with 34 points, while three other teams are expected to battle out for the fourth-and-final postseason position. Martin Luther College came in fourth with 28 points, University of Northwestern fifth with 24 points and the University of Minnesota Morris sixth with 21 points.
The LumberJacks have seen significant improvement under Greg Gilmore who begins his third season at the helm of Northland. His team should continue building on its momentum with the return of First Team goalkeeper Jamie Colvill and Second Team goal scorers Jonah Evans and Ainsworth Grant from this spring.
Martin Luther was fifth in the spring but should have a fighting chance at getting in to the field again this year returning Honorable Mention forwards Lucas Martin and Isaias Santos who combined for nine goals, as well as Honorable Mention defender Caleb Hengst.
Northwestern found success in the consolation bracket of the UMAC spring tournament and could challenge for the UMAC tournament bringing back Cole Alfrey and Luke McCann who each have earned all-conference honors in their careers.
Minnesota Morris was sixth this spring and hopes to return to the postseason for the first time since 2018. The Cougars have back Honorable Mention midfielder Carter Watkinson and junior goalkeeper Lucas Harmon who posted a 0.99 goals against average (GAA) in the spring season.
Crown College and North Central University rounded out the poll in seventh (14) and eighth (11), respectively. Both teams will look for improvement under first year head coaches and veteran talent. Crown will be led by senior Second Team defender Tim Maupin, while North Central’s defense will be headed up by captain and minutes leader Tyler Johnson.
Regular season non-conference competition gets underway Wednesday, Sept. 1. The conference season is slated to start for most teams on Saturday, Sept. 18. The UMAC postseason tournament will feature the top four squads with semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 3 and the title game on Saturday, Nov. 6.
2021 UMAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Pl. | School | Pts. |
| 1. | Wisconsin-Superior | 49 (7) |
| 2. | Bethany Lutheran | 43 (1) |
| 3. | Northland | 34 |
| 4. | Martin Luther | 28 |
| 5. | Northwestern | 24 |
| 6. | Minnesota Morris | 21 |
| 7. | Crown | 14 |
| 8. | North Central | 8 |