Monday, August 26, 2013
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ST. LOUIS – SIUE has been tabbed as the team to beat in the 2013 MVC men’s soccer chase in a vote conducted by league coaches in early August. The Cougars received 40 points and one first-place vote in the poll to narrowly out-distance Evansville (36 points, two first-place votes), Drake (36 points, one first-place vote) and Bradley (35 points, two first-place votes).
The Valley finished the 2012 season with a league RPI of No. 7, including four teams in the top-100 – former league member Creighton (6), SIUE (37), Evansville (83) and Bradley (100).
The foundation is in place as league teams return 52 starters (68 percent), including three first-team all-conference players, three who earned second-team accolades, 10 honorable mention selections and nine members of the all-freshman team.
SIUE (1st, 40 points, one first-place vote) returns several key pieces from last year’s 13-7 (4-2 MVC) squad, including senior goalkeeper John Berner, junior midfielder Matt 
Polster and junior forward Christian Volesky. Offensively, the Cougars will rely heavily on Volesky, the Valley's top returning goal scorer from a season ago (9), and Polster, who were both NSCAA first-team all-region and MVC first-team all-conference performers in 2012 and have also been named to the 2013 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch list. On defense, sophomore Brett Lane, a member of the league's all-freshman last season, will hold down the Cougars’ back line, while Berner, the reigning MVC Goalkeeper of the Year, remains as the last stop in SIUE's defense. In the NSCAA's preseason poll released last week, the Cougars are among the teams receiving votes.
Evansville (T-2nd, 36 points, two first-place votes) welcomes back 10 starters from last season’s 9-8-1 (3-2-1 MVC) team, including nearly 90-percent of all goals scored in 2012. The Purple Aces will be led offensively by a pair of sophomores, in Faik Hajderovic (5 goals, 5 assists) and Mark Gonzalez (5 goals, 1 assist), while Nick Schroeder (3 goals, 1 assist), Dylan Terry (2 goals, 3 assists) and Nate Opperman (3 goals) add to the depth on offense. Defensively, Evansville returns several key pieces from a season ago in juniors Patrick Hodges, Charlie Macias and goalkeeper Eric Teppen, who were each honorable mention all-conference selections in 2012.
Drake (T-2nd, 36 points, one first-place vote) welcomes back eight starters from a 2012 squad that finished 6-11-4 (2-2-2 MVC). The Bulldogs return six players that scored goals last season and will be led offensively by senior midfielder Addison Eck (5 goals, 4 assists), an honorable mention all-Valley honoree a season ago, and Jarred Arde (3 goals, 1 assist). Defensively, Drake returns its entire back line, including Nick Marshall (2 goals, 1 assist), Alec Bartlett (2012 MVC all-freshman team), Austin Reutzel and Garrett Crall. Senior goalkeeper Rich Gallagher, an honorable mention all-conference selection in 2012, also returns between the pipes for the Bulldogs.
Bradley (4th, 35 points, two first-place votes) returns 10 starters from last season’s 10-6-4 squad that finished tied for third in the MVC standings with a 3-2-1 league record. While the Braves lost their top two scorers from a season ago in Keegan Balle and Jochen Graf, they return six players that scored multiple goals in 2012. Senior forward Wojciech Wojcik (3 goals, 4 assists) is the Braves' active career scoring leader (8 goals, 24 points), and will be aided on the offensive front by seniors Ross Williams (2 goals, 6 assists) and Scott Davis (3 goals, 1 assist), junior Desmond Campbell (4 goals) and sophomore Jason Lesch (2 goals, 2 assists). Senior goalkeeper Brian Billings, a two-time all-Valley performer, will anchor the Bradley defense between the pipes. The Braves are also receiving votes in the NSCAA's preseason poll.
Missouri State (5th, 21 points, one first-place vote). returns nine starters from a 2012 squad that finished 5-8-4 (0-6 MVC) and missed the MVC Tournament for the first time since 1994. Known for stout defensive units year-after-year, the Bears welcome back nearly their entire back line that allowed just 14 goals in 2012. The defense will be anchored by junior James Fawke, a second-team all-conference performer a season ago, junior Andrew Turner and senior Jarred Clark. Offensively, Missouri State returns eight players that scored goals last season, and will be led by seniors Cole Alexander (3 goals) and Jared Gain (1 goal, 3 assists) and junior Jack Wood (2 goals).
Central Arkansas (6th, 19 points) welcomes back five starters from last season’s 8-9-1 (1-4-1 MVC) squad that qualified for its second-straight MVC Championship and won its first-ever league tournament game, upsetting host Bradley, 1-0 in quarterfinal play. While the Bears lost several key pieces in their offense, they return senior forward Taylor Hart, an honorable mention selection in 2012, and senior midfielder Jaden Hoth to add to the offensive firepower for Central Arkansas. Defensively, junior Matt Taphorn (2012 honorable mention all-MVC) will anchor the Bears' back line and will be joined by sophomore Jacob Campbell (2012 all-freshman team). Senior goalkeeper Patxi Shortsleeve is also back in the UCA lineup.
Loyola enters its first season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference after finishing 2012 with a record of 5-12-2 (2-3-2 Horizon, 6th) in its final season in the Horizon League. Neil Jones enters his first year at the helm in Loyola after spending the last three seasons as an assistant at Northwestern, helping the Wildcats earn back-to-back Big Ten Conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. The Ramblers return seven starters from the 2012 squad, including its top-two scoring options in sophomore forward Jake Savino (5 goals, 2 assists) and junior forward Andrew Raymonds (4 goals, 1 assist). Ryan Howe (1 goal, 2 assists), Kyle Spoo (1 goal, 1 assist) and Brian Bement (3 assists) will add to the Loyola offense again this season. Defensively, senior Reed Patterson (2 goals) and junior Brian Lunar (2 assists) will hold down the Ramblers' backline.
League favorite SIUE and Evansville each nabbed three spots on the 11-player preseason all-conference team, followed by Drake with two players recognized. Bradley, Central Arkansas and Missouri State each had one player named to the team.
The 2013 regular-season campaign begins this weekend with all seven teams in non-conference action. Bradley will host the 2013 MVC Championship, Nov. 13-17, in Peoria, Ill., where the league's top-six teams will battle it out for the Valley's automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
