Photo by: Steven Prunty
WVU Picked Third in MAC Preseason Poll
August 26, 2019 10:00 AM | Men's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 20/23 West Virginia University men's soccer team has been voted to finish third in the 2019 Mid-American Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.
In a vote by the league's six head coaches, the Mountaineers earned 22 points, five points behind Western Michigan, which received 27 points, including one first-place vote, and was picked to finish second in the league. Akron was selected to win the conference, garnering 35 total points and five first-place votes. SIU Edwardsville (15 points), Bowling Green (14 points) and Northern Illinois (13 points) rounded out the preseason poll.
In the MAC Tournament Champion poll, the Zips, who finished as the 2018 Men's College Cup runners-up, earned five of the six votes, with Western Michigan receiving the final tally.
WVU, which also was selected to finish third in the MAC preseason poll last season, finished 14-7-0 in 2018, including a perfect 5-0 mark in MAC play. The reigning conference regular-season champions also advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round for the first time since 2011.
Led by 14th year coach and the 2018 MAC Coach of the Year Marlon LeBlanc, the Mountaineers return nine players who started at least 15 matches last season. Offensively, WVU welcomes back 10 different goal scorers from a year ago and 29 of its 41 goals scored overall. West Virginia also returns junior goalkeeper Steven Tekesky, who earned All-MAC First Team honors in 2018.
The Mountaineers open the 2019 campaign on Friday, Aug. 30, at Monmouth, at 4 p.m. ET, in West Long Branch, New Jersey. The season-opening road trip continues with a match at Delaware, on Monday, Sept. 2, before the squad returns to Morgantown for its home opener against Wright State on Saturday, Sept. 7. In all, the Mountaineers are scheduled to play nine matches at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium this season.
2019 MAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll Results
Akron – 35 total points (5 First-Place Votes)
Western Michigan – 27 (1)
West Virginia – 22
SIUE – 15
Bowling Green – 14
Northern Illinois – 13
MAC Tournament Champion: Akron (5), Western Michigan (1)
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
In a vote by the league's six head coaches, the Mountaineers earned 22 points, five points behind Western Michigan, which received 27 points, including one first-place vote, and was picked to finish second in the league. Akron was selected to win the conference, garnering 35 total points and five first-place votes. SIU Edwardsville (15 points), Bowling Green (14 points) and Northern Illinois (13 points) rounded out the preseason poll.
In the MAC Tournament Champion poll, the Zips, who finished as the 2018 Men's College Cup runners-up, earned five of the six votes, with Western Michigan receiving the final tally.
WVU, which also was selected to finish third in the MAC preseason poll last season, finished 14-7-0 in 2018, including a perfect 5-0 mark in MAC play. The reigning conference regular-season champions also advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round for the first time since 2011.
Led by 14th year coach and the 2018 MAC Coach of the Year Marlon LeBlanc, the Mountaineers return nine players who started at least 15 matches last season. Offensively, WVU welcomes back 10 different goal scorers from a year ago and 29 of its 41 goals scored overall. West Virginia also returns junior goalkeeper Steven Tekesky, who earned All-MAC First Team honors in 2018.
The Mountaineers open the 2019 campaign on Friday, Aug. 30, at Monmouth, at 4 p.m. ET, in West Long Branch, New Jersey. The season-opening road trip continues with a match at Delaware, on Monday, Sept. 2, before the squad returns to Morgantown for its home opener against Wright State on Saturday, Sept. 7. In all, the Mountaineers are scheduled to play nine matches at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium this season.
2019 MAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll Results
Akron – 35 total points (5 First-Place Votes)
Western Michigan – 27 (1)
West Virginia – 22
SIUE – 15
Bowling Green – 14
Northern Illinois – 13
MAC Tournament Champion: Akron (5), Western Michigan (1)
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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