Men’s soccer picked third in first-ever MIAA preseason poll
The men’s soccer team was picked third in the first-ever Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association preseason poll, announced today by the league publicist.
ROYAL OAK, Mich. -- The Olivet College men's soccer team was picked third in the first-ever Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) preseason poll, announced today by the league publicist.
In voting by the coaches, the Comets received 21 total points. Defending co-MIAA champion Hope College was chosen as the preseason favorite with 10 points, followed by Calvin College with 11 points. Adrian College was selected fourth with 28 points, followed by Kalamazoo College (32), Trine (Ind.) University (37), Alma College (39) and Albion College (46).
Under the tutelage of third-year head coach Chad Wiseman, the Comets are expecting 12 letterwinners to report for the 2011 season. Included in this group is junior Matt Garza (Saline), who is a two-time first-team All-MIAA midfielder. Captains for the season are junior Cole Dehen (Kentwood/East Kentwood) and sophomore Fred Smyser (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Eastern).
Olivet will open the 2011 season Sept. 1 when it travels to play Anderson (Ind.) University at 5 p.m. The Comets' home-opener is one week later, Sept. 8, when they welcome Spring Arbor University to the Cutler Athletic Complex at 5 p.m.
Olivet begins MIAA play Tuesday, Sept. 13, when it hosts Kalamazoo at 4 p.m. All of the league teams have the goal of playing in the first-ever MIAA Tournament. The top four teams in regular season play will advance to play in the tournament the first weekend in November, with the winner receiving the league's automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Division III National Championships.
- Hope (5) -- 10
- Calvin (3) -- 11
- OLIVET -- 21
- Adrian -- 28
- Kalamazoo -- 32
- Trine, Ind. -- 37
- Alma -- 39
- Albion -- 46
KEY: number of first-place votes in parenthesis. Coaches could not vote for their own team.