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Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Men's Soccer Picked 4th in MAC Preseason Poll
August 16, 2002 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 16, 2002
Cleveland, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's soccer team was picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll, as voted on by league coaches on Thursday, Aug. 15. The University of Kentucky was chosen to win the regular season title, receiving 44 of a possible 49 points and three first-place votes.
BGSU finished the 2001 season with a 8-8-1 overall record and a 2-4-0 record in the MAC, finishing sixth out of seven teams. However, the Falcons won the MAC Tournament opener against Buffalo in triple overtime (1-0) and lost a heartbreaker to Kentucky in the semifinals (1-0).
Head coach Mel Mahler begins his ninth season at the helm with seven letterwinners from last year returning. Included in that group is senior Matt Leardini, the second-leading scorer in 2001. The only other senior is midfielder Damion Bennett.
Kentucky finished the 2001 season in first place in the MAC, with a perfect 6-0 record in conference play. Ending with an overall mark of 14-6-1, the Wildcats won the 2001 MAC tournament and continued to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, before falling 1-0 to Clemson in triple overtime. John Monebrake, Newcomer of the Year, returns this season for the Wildcats.
Right behind the Wildcats in the preseason poll is the University of Akron, finishing with 42 points and two first-place votes. Before losing to UK last season, the Zips had won the last four MAC regular season championships, including three outright (1997-99). The Zips Finished the 2001 season with a 10-7-1 overall mark (5-1 MAC),
Marshall and Bowling Green are picked to finish third and fourth, respectively. Marshall, earning 38 points, will welcome back forward Byron Carmichael. The league leader in goals (15) and points (33) will lead the Herd, who finished with an impressive overall mark of 12-7(3-3 MAC).
Western Michigan finished fifth with 18 points, (5-13-1 overall and 1-4-1 in the MAC), will return two members of the All-MAC second team, Mike Bravo and Scott Duhl. Northern Illinois finished sixth in the balloting with 16 points, while Buffalo finished seventh, with 12. Northern Illinois concluded the 2001 season with league marks of 1-5 and Buffalo ended at 2-3-1. Peter Agrimson, a first team All-MAC pick, will return for the Huskies. Buffalo's first team All-MAC team selection, Mike Peplinski returns as well.
Defending tournament and regular season champs Kentucky received three votes in favor of the championship. Right behind them with two votes is Akron and Marshall was picked by one coach to win the 2001 MAC Tournament (out of six returned votes). Marshall lost 2-1 to second seeded Akron in the semifinals of the 2001 tournament, after defeating Western Michigan 3-1 in the quarterfinals.
Poll Results*1. Kentucky (3) 44 2. Akron (2) 42 3. Marshall (1) 38 4. Bowling Green 26 5. Western Michigan 18 6. Northern Illinois 16 7. Buffalo 12
Tournament winner- Kentucky (3), Akron (2), Marshall (1)
* numbers in parentheses are first place votes
