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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Picked to Finish Fifth in MAC
August 26, 2019 | Men's Soccer
Conference office releases preseason coaches poll
The Bowling Green State University men's soccer team has been picked to finish fifth in the Mid-American Conference race in 2019. The preseason poll, the result of voting by the conference's six head coaches, was released by the league office on Monday morning (Aug. 26).
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For coach Eric Nichols and the Falcons, being picked to place fifth in the league is nothing new. BGSUÂ has been tabbed to finish fifth in the six-team loop twice in the last three years. In each of those seasons, 2016 and 2018, the Falcons wound up finishing second in the conference. BG had a combined conference mark of 4-1-5 in those two years.Â
Akron was picked to capture the 2019 MAC regular-season and tournament titles. The Zips received five of the six first-place votes and 35Â total points. UA also received five of the six votes to win the tourney crown. The Zips finished fourth in the MAC regular-season standings last season, then won the MAC Tournament and advanced to the title match of the College Cup.
Western Michigan was predicted to finish second in the regular-season race. The Broncos received 27 points and one first-place vote, and Western also received one vote to win the MAC Tournament.
West Virginia (22 points) was predicted to finish third in the conference regular-season race, followed by SIUE (15), BGSUÂ (14) and Northern Illinois (13). Each of the six teams was predicted to finish in the same spot in last year's preseason poll.
Nichols and his staff welcome back a total of 16 letterwinners, including seven starters, from last year's club. The Falcons finished with an overall record of 6-7-4 and a MAC mark of 2-1-2, placing second in the league standings.
Nichols and his staff lost four stellar seniors off of last year's roster, but the returning corps includes five players that started at least 14 of last year's 17 matches, and a total of seven players who posted double-digit start totals.
BG went 5-1-2 over the final eight contests of the regular season, including a six-match unbeaten streak, the program's longest since 1997.
The Falcons will play the first four matches of the regular season away from home, beginning with a pair of contests in Pittsburgh this weekend. BGSU will face Duquesne on Friday night (Aug. 30), before taking on Robert Morris Sunday afternoon (Sept. 1).
BGSU's home opener is set for Friday, Sept. 13, vs. Ohio State. Again this season, admission is free to all BGSU home regular-season matches.
For more information on the men's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter (@BGAthletics and @BGSUmenssoccer), Instagram (bgsumenssoccer) and Facebook (BGMensSoccer) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.Â
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2019 MAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
Team (FPV)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Pts.
1. Akron (5) .............. 35
2. Western Michigan (1) ... 27
3. West Virginia .......... 22
4. SIUE ................... 15
5. Bowling Green .......... 14
6. Northern Illinois ...... 13
Predicted MAC Tournament Champion
Akron (5), Western Michigan (1)
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