MAC Announces 2017 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 2017.
The Zips received five first-place votes after coming off a season in which they went 13-6-3 overall, and 3-1-1 in MAC play. Fifth year head coach Jared Embick will return seven players from his starting 11 last season, led by All-MAC senior mid-fielder Pau Belana, along with forwards Sam Gainford, and Stuart Holthusen.
West Virginia and MAC newcomer SIU Edwardsville tied for second place in the preseason poll. The Mountaineers finished 8-7-1 overall last year with a 1-4 conference record. They will be led by Senior All-MAC midfielder Jad Arslan and 2014 head coach of the year Marlon LeBlanc.
Earlier this summer, the MAC announced the addition of SIU Edwardsville as an affiliate to the conference in order to increase the quality and depth of the men’s soccer programs. The Cougars will begin their first season in the MAC after finishing 10-5-7 overall last season, and eventually making it to the round of 16 in the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championships.
Rounding out the MAC is Western Michigan University, Bowling Green, (who are tied for fourth) and Northern Illinois.
Regular season play is scheduled to open Friday, August 25, when five out of the six MAC teams will be in action against non-conference opponents. Conference play will begin Saturday, October 7, as a trio of games between the six conference opponents will determine the first rankings of the season.
Click here to view the complete 2017 MAC Men’s Soccer Schedule.
2017 MAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll Results
Akron - 35 total points (5 First Place Votes)
WVU - 21 (1)
SIUE - 21
WMU - 20
BGSU - 20
NIU - 9
MAC Tournament Champion- Akron
