MAC Announces 2018 Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced Tuesday that the Akron Zips have been selected by the coaches to repeat as the men’s soccer regular season and MAC tournament champions in 2018.
The Zips received five out of six first-place votes after coming off of a season in which they finished 18-4-2 overall (4-1 MAC) and made it to the Final Four of the 2017 College Cup. Sixth year head coach Jared Embick will return four starters to the 2018 team including senior goalkeeper Ben Lundt and redshirt junior Skye Harter.
2017 regular season champion Western Michigan finished 2
nd in the poll and received one vote to win the 2018 regular season. The Broncos finished undefeated in conference play last season and rolled to a Sweet Sixteen appearance in the College Cup.
MAC affiliate members West Virginia and SIU-Edwardsville finished in 3
rdand 4
th place in the poll respectively. The Mountaineers finished 9-6-4 overall last year with a 1-2-2 conference record. SIUE had a successful first season in the MAC and finished with a 7-9-1 record as well as a No. 4 seed in the MAC Tournament.
Bowling Green and Northern Illinois round out the MAC finishing the poll in 5
thand 6
thplace.
Regular season play is scheduled to open Friday, August 24, when five out of the six MAC teams will be in action against non-conference opponents. Conference play will begin Saturday, October 6, as a trio of games between the six conference opponents will determine the first rankings of the season.
Click here to view the complete 2018 MAC Men’s Soccer Schedule.
2018 MAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll Results
Akron - 35 total points (5 First Place Votes)
Western Michigan - 26 (1)
West Virginia – 24
SIUE - 18
Bowling Green - 15
Northern Illinois - 8
MAC Tournament Champion- Akron (6)
