ST. PAUL, Minn.- The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll for the 2021 fall Men's Soccer season was officially released on Tuesday morning, and the University of Northwestern has been predicted to finish fifth overall in the conference.
UMAC Press Release
For the first fall season in two years, it was Wisconsin-Superior that came away as the unanimous preseason favorite to win the conference. The Yellowjackets received every opponent's first place vote and led the poll with 49 points.
The Vikings of Bethany Lutheran were voted as the team most likely to challenge Wisconsin-Superior. Bethany Lutheran received a first place vote and finished with 43 points landing at a predicted second place finish in the preseason poll.
Northland (34) and Martin Luther (28) received the next highest point totals to come in at third and fourth place respectively in the preseason poll.
Next came the Eagles who checked in at fifth place having received 24 points in the poll. The Eagles were picked to be in the mix with the other teams in the top half of the conference, and were highlighted by the UMAC as a team that could potentially make some noise in the Conference Tournament by the end of the season. The Eagles have a lot of weapons returning from last year's squad. Northwestern returns their starting goalkeeper,
Austin Gunkel (Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View), who has two career shutouts and is geared up for a strong 2021 campaign. The Eagles also have threats on offense with
Cole Alfrey (Elkhorn, Neb./Elkhorn) and
Luke McCann (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield High School) returning having each scored three goals apiece last season.
Minnesota Morris (21), Crown (14), and North Central (8) rounded out the preseason poll.
The Eagles start their season against Bethel University on Wednesday, September 1 at 7:00pm at Reynolds Field.
2021 UMAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
| 1. |
Wisconsin-Superior |
49 (7) |
| 2. |
Bethany Lutheran |
43 (1) |
| 3. |
Northland |
34 |
| 4. |
Martin Luther |
28 |
| 5. |
Northwestern |
24 |
| 6. |
Minnesota Morris |
21 |
| 7. |
Crown |
14 |
| 8. |
North Central |
8 |
