Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Picked to Finish Fifth in MAC in 2009
August 19, 2009 | Men's Soccer
The Bowling Green State University men's soccer team has been picked to finish fifth in the 2009 Mid-American Conference race, according to a preseason poll of the league's seven head coaches. Head coach Eric Nichols is beginning his first year at the BGSU helm.
Nichols is joined by a total of 15 letterwinners, including nine starters, who return from last year's team. The Falcons went 4-13-2 overall last fall.
Defending champion Akron has been picked to win both the regular season and tournament titles. The Zips, who were ranked No. 9 in the final College Soccer News and NSCAA/adidas polls a year ago, will return seven of 11 starters and nine letterwinners overall this fall - including All-American Anthony Ampaipitakwong and freshman All-Americans Kofi Sarkodie and Darlington Nagbe - from a team that recorded the second-highest win total in school history in 2008. Akron will begin the season ranked at No. 1 in the Top Drawer Soccer Poll and No. 6 in the CSN National Poll.
Hartwick College was picked to finish second in the conference this season as head coach Ian McIntyre welcomes back 10 lettermen, including seven starters from a team that went 7-5-7 last season. The Hawks will face a very demanding schedule as they take on three teams who were seeded in last year's NCAA Tournament.
Buffalo was picked to finish third in the conference and was followed by Northern Illinois in fourth and BGSU in fifth. Western Michigan and Florida Atlantic rounded out this year's poll.
MAC regular season action begins on Tuesday, September 1 with three schools taking the field against non-conference opponents. The Falcons host Marshall on that day, in the first regular-season contest of the Nichols Era. The first conference match will take place on Tuesday, September 22 when Hartwick travels to Buffalo.
2009 MAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Akron
2. Hartwick
3. Buffalo
4. Northern Illinois
5. Bowling Green
6. Western Michigan
7. Florida Atlantic
Tournament Champion: Akron (7)
