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ST. LOUIS –Creighton has been tabbed as the team to beat in the 2012 MVC men’s soccer chase, in a vote conducted by league coaches in early August. The Bluejays received four first-place votes and 46 points in the poll to outdistance Missouri State (38), which is selected for a second-place conference finish.
The Valley will look to continue to build off the success of another historic season in 2011 that saw two league teams selected to play in the NCAA Championship, with one earning a spot in the College Cup in Birmingham, Ala. Two league teams danced in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth-straight season and the 11th time overall, as 2011 MVC Men’s Soccer Tournament champion Creighton was joined by Bradley in postseason play. The Bluejays made their 19th NCAA Tournament appearance in the last 20 years, advancing to the College Cup before falling in PKs to Charlotte in a national semifinal game, while Bradley made its first-ever back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearance, and sixth overall.
The Valley finished with a league RPI of nine, including four teams in the top-65 – Creighton (2), Bradley (28), Missouri State (61) and Drake (63).
The foundation is in place as league teams return 41 starters (53 percent), four players who earned second-team accolades, five honorable mention selections and all 11members of the all-freshman team.
Creighton, which made a run into the College Cup in 2011, enters this season ranked in two national preseason polls (third in NSCAA poll, 14th in College Soccer News poll) . The Bluejays return seven letterwinners and four starters from that 21-2-1 squad, led by second team all-MVC midfielders Jose Gomez and Bruno Castro, a duo that combined for 10 goals and 16 assists last season. Senior Andrew Ribeiro (4 goals, 1 assist) also returns to the Bluejay lineup this fall. On defense, sophomore Eric Miller and senior Jake Brown will anchor the Creighton backline, which set an NCAA record with a 0.20 goals against average, surrendering just five total goals last season.
Missouri State is picked second is this year’s preseason poll, earning 38 points and the remaining three first-place votes. The Bears return six starters from a 2011 squad that finished tied atop the regular-season standings and was also the runner-up at the MVC Tournament. Missouri State returns a solid defensive backline, including senior Ben Griffiths and sophomores James Fawke and Andrew Turner, members of the league’s all-freshman team a season ago, while also welcoming back junior goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg (44 saves, 6 shutouts). Offensively, the Bears return six players that scored at least two goals in 2011, including juniors Cole Alexander, Jared Gain, Jarred Clark and Sean Wilkins, and sophomores Fawke and Pedro Cardenas.
Bradley (3rd, 34 points) returns five starters from last season’s 15-6-2 squad, after making back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in program history. The Braves are ranked 25th in the NSCAA preseason poll with a roster includes 12 players that have been a part of the two-straight postseason bids, including nine goal-scorers. Bradley’s defense will be anchored by junior goalkeeper Brian Billings, the league’s saves leader (93) a season ago, while senior forward Jochen Graf is the team’s active career scoring leader (7 goals, 11 assists).
SIUE (4th, 27 points) returns six starters from last year’s 8-8-4 (1-4-1 MVC) squad, including the reigning MVC Freshman of the Year, Matt Polster. Offensively, the Cougars will have scoring options from multiple players, including Polster (3 goals, 6 assists), Peter Kelly (2 goals), Jared Tejada (2 goals), Brian Groark (1 goal, 4 assists), Aaron Lantz (1 goal, 1 assist) and Travis Hoguet (2 goals) add depth and experience on the offensive front for the Cougars. On defense, Benny Jeffery, a 2010 MVC honorable mention all-conference selection, returns from injury for his senior campaign, and will hold down the Cougars’ back line.
Drake (5th, 21 points) welcomes back five starters from a 2011 squad that finished 11-8-1 (3-3 MVC). The Bulldogs will be without their top three goal-scorers from a season ago, and will look to rely on a multitude of options offensively, including senior Michael Thaden, juniors Logan North and Bryan Jantsch and sophomores Kyle Whigham, Thomas Schermoly and Ross Payne. Defensively, Drake returns juniors Logan North and Garrett Crall, a second-team all-MVC selection in 2011.
Evansville (6th, 18 points) welcomes back seven starters from last season’s 5-11-1 (0-5-1 MVC) team, including 75-percent of all goals scored. Senior Jesse Sharp (4 goals, 7 assists) and sophomore Ryan Stallings (5 goals, 2 assists) will lead the charge for the Purple Aces, while Dylan Terry (2 goals, 3 assists) and Alex Kapsalis (1 goal, 3 assists) add to the depth on offense. Defensively, Evansville returns two key pieces from a season ago, in sophomores Patrick Hodges and goalkeeper Eric Teppen, both members of the league’s all-freshmen team in 2011.
Central Arkansas (7th, 12 points) welcomes back eight starters from last season’s 2-12-4 (1-3-2 MVC) squad that qualified for its first-ever MVC Championship. The Bears return nearly 80-percent of their offensive production, including eight players that scored at least one goal. Senior Ethan Miller, an honorable mention selection in 2011, will lead the charge of offense, and will be joined by senior Chris Deaville and sophomores Daylon Schiffel and Elia Louis. Defensively, sophomore Matt Taphorn will anchor UCA’s back line, and will be joined by seniors David Ngwenya and Mickey Segura. Junior goalkeeper Patxi Shortsleeve is also back in the Bears’ lineup.
League favorite and perennial national power Creighton nabbed four spots on the 13-player preseason all-conference team, followed by Bradley, SIUE and Central Arkansas with two players recognized. Drake, Evansville and Missouri State each had one player named to the team.
| 2012 MVC MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM |
| Player, Team |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Hometown (Previous School) |
| Brian Billings, Bradley |
GK |
Jr. |
Apple Valley, Minn. (Shattuck-St. Mary's) |
| Bruno Castro, Creighton |
M/F |
Jr. |
San Jose, Costa Rica (Saint Paul/North Carolina) |
| Garrett Crall, Drake |
D |
Jr. |
Norwalk, Iowa (Norwalk) |
| Jose Gomez, Creighton |
M/F |
Sr. |
Santa Ana, Calif. (Century/Cal State Fullerton) |
| Jochen Graf, Bradley |
F |
Sr. |
Double Oak, Texas (Faustina Academy/SMU) |
| Benny Jeffery, SIUE |
M |
Sr. |
Florissant, Mo. (Hazelwood Central) |
| Eric Miller, Creighton |
M/D |
So. |
Woodbury, Minn. (Woodbury) |
| Ethan Miller, Central Arkansas |
M/F |
Sr. |
Tomball, Texas (Tomball/Centenary) |
| Matt Polster, SIUE |
M |
So. |
Las Vegas, Nev. (Palo Verde) |
| Andrew Ribeiro, Creighton |
M/F |
Sr. |
Green Bay, Wis. (Notre Dame Academy) |
| Jesse Sharp, Evansville |
F |
Sr. |
Warsaw, Ind. (Warsaw Community) |
| Matt Taphorn, Central Arkansas |
D |
So. |
Denver, Colo. (Rangeview) |
| Andrew Turner, Missouri State |
D |
So. |
Sheffield, England (Aston Comprehensive) |