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Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Tabbed for Sixth in MAC
August 14, 2007 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 14, 2007
CLEVELAND, Ohio (BGSUFalcons.com) - The Mid-American Conference men's soccer coaches have made their predictions for the 2007 season, and the Bowling Green State University Falcons have been picked to finish sixth. The poll, released Tuesday (Aug. 14), is a result of voting by the league's head coaches.
MAC Office Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat ReaderThe Falcons of fourth-year head coach Fred Thompson return 13 letterwinners, including seven starters, from a year ago. BGSU finished 4-14-1 overall and advanced to the semifinal round of the MAC Tournament in 2006.
The 2007 edition of the Falcons will open the regular season on Friday, Aug. 31, at Florida International. The initial home match will be two weeks later (Fri., Sept. 14) vs. Central Arkansas, as part of the BGSU Invitational.
Akron was the choice of the league's head coaches to win both the regular season and tournament titles. The Zips claimed five out of six first place votes and received three votes to win the MAC Tournament.
UA second-year head coach Caleb Porter welcomes back 15 letterwinners, including nine starters. Among those returning are All-MAC first team selections Ossie Michalsen, Matt Tutich, Steve Kalan and Pablo Moreira. Also returning for the Zips are All-MAC second team selections Devin McKenney and Cory Sipos. Akron posted a 13-5-1 record and shared the MAC regular-season title in Porter's first year as men's head coach in 2006. That was the ninth time in its 14 years as a member of the league that UA has claimed at least a share of the championship. Porter and his staff have also been recognized this season by securing the fifth-best recruiting class in the nation, according to CollegeSoccerNews.com. The No. 5 ranking is the best in the history of the program and also the highest national ranking ever for all of Akron's 19 intercollegiate sports.
Northern Illinois was picked to finish second by the coaches after taking home the 2007 MAC Tournament championship last season. The Huskies and 2007 MAC Coach of the Year Steve Simmons will enter the season ranked No. 26 in the nation by College Soccer News. Nineteen players, including seven starters, return from the 2006 team that was 15-6-1 overall, secured the program's first NCAA Tourney berth in 33 years, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Among those returning are 2006 MAC Freshman of the Year Marcus McCarty and All-MAC first team selection Chris Rufa. McCarty's 11 goals led the conference, and he also ranked first on the MAC's charts for points (26), and game-winning goals (7). Also returning for the Huskies is All-MAC second team selection Joe Zimka. Zimka, a junior, registered 11 shutouts while setting an NCAA Division I record of 0.21 goals against per game last season.
Hartwick College was picked to finish third in its inaugural season as an affiliate member of the MAC after posting an overall record of 8-10-2 last season as a member of the Atlantic Soccer Conference. The Hawks are followed by Buffalo, while Western Michigan and BGSU round out this year's poll.
MAC regular season non-conference action begins on Friday, August 31 with a full slate of games, including the BGSU-at-FIU matchup. Conference play begins on Friday, Sept. 28, with the Falcons heading to Buffalo for an evening match.
2007 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Akron 2. Northern Illinois 3. Hartwick 4. Buffalo 5. Western Michigan 6. Bowling Green
Predicted Tournament Champion: Akron
(Portions of this release courtesy MAC office)
