UMAC PREVIEW: Men's Soccer
ST. PAUL, MN - With the men's soccer season quickly approaching, the coaches around the league took the time to submit their votes for this year's Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Preseason Coaches Poll.
Looking to repeat as conference champions for what would be the fifth consecutive season, the University of Wisconsin-Superior has been picked by the coaches as the favorite to once again take home the UMAC crown. UW-Superior went 13-1 in UMAC play a year ago and 16-7 overall. They took home a share of the regular season conference title before winning the UMAC Tournament to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament where they lost 1-0 to then the number three ranked team in the country, Washington University in St. Louis. This season, the Yellowjackets return a lot of key contributors from that NCAA Tournament team a year ago. Blake Perry returns for his senior season after earning First Team All-UMAC honors and was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Wisconsin First Team. Perry also lead all of Division III in assists (20), and points (58). Josh Bellamy returns for Superior after being named UMAC Rookie of the Year, Bellamy had six goals, four assists, and sixteen points in 2021. Another key returner for Superior this season is Phillip Eriksen, the junior was the 2020 UMAC Rookie of the Year and last year scored twelve goals, had three assists, and twenty-seven points.
Bethany Lutheran has been picked to finish second this fall after earning a share of the UMAC regular season title a year ago. The Vikings went 13-1 in UMAC play and 14-7 overall. Bethany returns a program record twenty-seven players from last season. One of the main contributors returning from a year ago is Liam Peterson. Peterson is the reigning UMAC Defensive Player of the Year while also earning First Team All-UMAC honors. Agostino Quadrio Curzio is another name to watch for the Vikings this fall. Last season, the sophomore midfielder was named First Team All-UMAC, while recording three goals, nine assists, and fifteen points. Another all-conference player from a year ago Tomas Abreu, also returns for the Vikings. Abreu had seven goals, six assists, and twenty points in 2021.
The Northland Lumberjacks are the third team selected in this seasons coaches poll. The Lumberjacks went 8-5-1 in UMAC play and 10-9-1 overall. Twenty new players have been added to the roster to go along with some key returners. Jamie Colvill, the junior goalkeeper who earned First Team All-UMAC honors a year ago returns in net for the Lumberjacks. Izaak Clarke is another key returner from 2021, Clarke had nine goals and was named to the All-UMAC Second Team. Diego Castaneda returns as well after being named First Team All-UMAC in 2021. The senior had seven goals and four assists a year ago.
Northwestern is the team picked to finish fourth in this years poll. The Eagles went 6-7-1 in UMAC play and 7-10-1 overall a year ago. Returning for the Eagles this season include three UMAC All-Conference players including Jonathan-Thomas Olsen, Tim Deloye, and Alejandro Alfaro. Alfaro was a First Team All-Conference selection and scored four goals, including two game winners.
The Cougars of Minnesota Morris are the team picked to finished fifth in this years poll. The Cougars went 5-7-2 in UMAC play, and 5-13-2 overall. Returning for the Cougars this year is senior midfielder Carter Watkinson, Watkinson was Second Team All-UMAC while recording five goals and five assists. A couple honorable mention all-conference players return as well in goalkeeper Lucas Harmon, and defender Mo Hoefs.
The Crown Polars slot in the number six spot. The Polars went 1-13 in UMAC play and 3-18 overall a year ago. First year Head Coach Jon Forsythe has brought in a lot of new faces this fall but also returns UMAC Second Team All-Conference selection Tim Jaeger. Jaeger finished last season with ten goals and five assists.
North Central is slotted in at number seven for this seasons preseason poll. The Rams went 3-11 in UMAC play a year ago and 8-13 overall. The Rams return three all-conference selections from 2021 including Elliott Lebsack (12 goals, 5 assists), Weston Buckley (8 goals, 5 assists), and Adam Vang (4 goals, 3 assists).
Martin Luther has been selected to finish eighth this season. The Knights went 5-9 in UMAC play a year ago and 6-12 overall. Lucas Martin and Xander Heiman both return for Martin Luther after being selected to the UMAC All-Conference Second Team. Martin has seventeen career goals, thirteen career assists, and was fourth in goals scored in UMAC play in 2021. Heiman has eleven career goals and was third in game winning goals in UMAC play last season.
Bethany Lutheran
Head Coach
Derick Lyngholm | 4th Season |
2021 Season
- UMAC record 13-1, Overall record 14-7| Tied for 1st |
- Postseason: Beat Northland 6-0 in UMAC semifinals, Lost 2-1 (OT) to UWS in UMAC Finals
Top Returners
- Liam Peterson, 4th Year, Defense | UMAC Defensive Player of the Year, 1st Team All-UMAC
- Agostino Quadrio Curzio, 2nd Year, Midfield | 1st Team All-UMAC, 3 goals, 9 assists, 15 points
- Tomas Abreu, 2nd Year, Midfield | 1st Team All- UMAC | 7 goals, 6 assists, 20 points.
Need to Know
Bethany returns a program record 27 players from last season. Bethany will need to fill the big shoes of Max Busch (19g, 7a, 45 pts.) and will look to rely on a talented group of returners and a talented recruiting class.
Crown
Head Coach
Jon Forsythe | 1st season |
2021 Season
- 1-13 | 3-18 | 8th place finish
Top Returners
- Tim Jaeger – UMAC Second Team All-Conference
Martin Luther College
Head Coach
Nicolas Schmoller and Tim Grundmeier| 1
st season |
2021 Season
- 5-9 UMAC, 6-12 Overall | 6th |
Top Returners
- Lucas Martin, Senior, Forward | 2021 UMAC All-Conference 2nd Team | 17 career goals, 13 career assists, Tied for 4th place in goals for UMAC play in 2021 |
- Xander Heiman, Senior, Midfielder | 2021 UMAC All-Conference 2nd Team | 11 career goals, Tied for 3rd place in game-winning goals for UMAC Play in 2021, UMAC Player of the Week in 2021 |
- Caleb Hengst, Senior, Defender | 2020 UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention | 4-year starter |
Need to Know
Schmoller and Grundmeier are beginning their first season as associate coaches with eight returning starters.
North Central University
Head Coach
Colette Montgomery | 1st season |
2021 Season
- UMAC record 3-11, Overall record 8-13 | Finish 7th in UMAC Conference |
Top Returners
- Elliott Lebsack, Junior, Forward | UMAC Honors: 2021 UMAC Men's Soccer All-Conference Second Team |Captain | 12 goals, 5 assists |
- Weston Buckley, Senior, Midfield | UMAC Honors: 2021 UMAC Men's Soccer All-Conference Honorable Mention | Other Honors | 8 goals, 5 assists |
- Adam Vang, Senior, Midfield | UMAC Honors: 2021 UMAC Men's Soccer All-Conference Honorable Mention | Other Honors | 4 goals, 3 assists
Northland College
Head Coach
Greg Gilmore | 4
th season |
2021 Season
- UMAC record 8-5-1, 10-9-1 Overall record | 3rd |
- Postseason: Lost in UMAC semifinals
Top Returners
- Jamie Colvill, GK, JR | UMAC 1st Team | All-Wisconsin |
- Izaak Clarke, F, JR | UMAC 2nd Team | 9G, 1A
- Diego Castaneda, W, SR | UMAC 1st Team | 7G, 4A
Need to Know
Added 20 players to the roster this year
University of Minnesota Morris
Head Coach
Scott Turnbull | 13th season |
2021 Season
- 5-7-2 UMAC, 5-13-2 Overall record | 5th |
Top Returners
- Carter Watkinson, SR, Midfielder | 2nd Team All-UMAC in 2021| 5 goals, 5 assists, 48 shots |
- Lucas Harmon, SR, Goalkeeper | Honorable Mention All-UMAC in 2021 | 116 saves, 2.47 GAA, 1,859 minutes |
- Mo Hoefs, SO, Defender | Honorable Mention All-UMAC in 2021 | 3 assists, 19 starts |
University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Head Coach
Greg Wheaton | 23
rd Season |
2021 Season
- 6-7-1 UMAC , 7-10-1 Overall | 4th |
- Postseason: Lost to UW-Superior in the UMAC Semifinals
Top Returners
- Jonathan-Thomas Olsen, Junior, Forward | 2021 UMAC Honorable Mention All-Conference | 10 career goals, 3 career game winning goals |
- Tim Deloye, Sophomore, Defender | 2021 UMAC Honorable Mention All-Conference, 2021 UMAC All-Academic | Started in 13 games as a freshman, 7 shots, 6 shots on goal
- Alejandro Alfaro, Sophomore, Midfielder | 2021 UMAC First Team All-Conference | 4 goals, 2 game winning goals, 33 shots
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Head Coach Name Joe Mooney| 15th season |
2021 Season
- UMAC record: 13-1 (16-7 overall) | Finish: T-1st |
- Postseason: Was number 1 seed heading into the UMAC Tournament. Defeated Northwestern 5-1 in UMAC semifinals and Bethany Lutheran 2-1 (OT) in the championship. Lost, 1-0, to No. 3-ranked WashU in NCAA tournament first round.
Top Returners
- Blake Perry, Sr., F | All-UMAC First Team | United Soccer Coaches All-Wisconsin First Team | 19 goals, 20 assists (led NCAA Division III), 58 points (also led Division III) |
- Josh Bellamy, So., D | 2021 UMAC Rookie of the Year and All-UMAC First Team | 2021 United Soccer Coaches All-Wisconsin Newcomer of the Year and All-Wisconsin Second Team | Six goals, four assists, 16 points |
- Phillip Eriksen, Jr., F | 2020 UMAC Rookie of the Year | Other Honors | 12 goals, three assists, 27 points |
Need to Know
The Yellowjackets were the top-scoring team in the nation in 2021, scoring 101 goals in 23 games (4.391 per game).