The Falcons received 64 points and first-place votes from all eight opposing coaches
ANNVILLE, Pa. (Men’s Soccer) – The Messiah Falcons were selected as the favorite in the 2017 conference preseason poll conducted among the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth (MAC Commonwealth) men’s soccer coaches. The Falcons collected all eight first-place votes from opposing coaches for a total of 64 points.
Lebanon Valley collected 53 points to be positioned second, and Lycoming received 50 points for third. Alvernia picked up 39 points and Arcadia earned 37 points to round out the top-5 in the preseason poll.
The rest of the poll in respective order includes Hood (32 points), Stevenson (22 points), Widener (19 points) and Albright (8 points).
Messiah defeated Lebanon Valley in the 2016 MAC Commonwealth Championship Match, 4-1, to capture its 16th conference title. It is the Falcons 13th conference title since the MAC Commonwealth Championship was established in 2000. Messiah went on to the NCAA Division III Championship where it advanced to the sectional semifinal, falling to the eventual national runner-up, Calvin College.
Joining Messiah (1) and Lebanon Valley (2) at the 2016 conference championship were Alvernia (3), Hood (4) and Arcadia (5).
Lebanon Valley and Arcadia both earned berths to the 2016 ECAC Division III Championship after the conference championship. The Knights lost in the opening round, while the Dutchmen went 4-0 on home turf to capture the ECAC title.
Messiah was ranked No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches, formerly the NSCAA, Division III Preseason Poll in early August.
The 2017 MAC Commonwealth Men’s Soccer Coaches’ Preseason Poll and 2016 final standings can be viewed below.
| 2017 MAC Commonwealth Men's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll |
|
|
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
(1st Place Votes) |
|
|
| 1 |
Messiah |
64 |
(8) |
|
|
|
| 2 |
Lebanon Valley |
53 |
|
|
|
|
| 3 |
Lycoming |
50 |
|
|
|
|
| 4 |
Alvernia |
39 |
|
|
|
|
| 5 |
Arcadia |
37 |
|
|
|
|
| 6 |
Hood |
32 |
|
|
|
|
| 7 |
Stevenson |
22 |
|
|
|
|
| 8 |
Widener |
19 |
|
|
|
|
| 9 |
Albright |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2016 MAC Commonwealth Men's Soccer Final Standings |
|
|
| Finish |
Team |
Conf. |
Overall |
|
|
|
| 1 |
Messiah |
8-0-0 |
19-1-3 |
|
|
|
| 2 |
Lebanon Valley |
6-2-0 |
18-4-0 |
|
|
|
| 3 |
Alvernia |
5-2-1 |
6-11-1 |
|
|
|
| 4 |
Hood |
4-3-1 |
11-5-2 |
|
|
|
| T5 (5) |
Arcadia |
3-3-2 |
9-8-4 |
|
|
|
| T5 |
Lycoming |
3-3-2 |
9-6-4 |
|
|
|
| 7 |
Stevenson |
2-6-0 |
3-13-3 |
|
|
|
| 8 |
Widener |
1-5-2 |
3-11-3 |
|
|
|
| 9 |
Albright |
0-8-0 |
2-13-2 |
|
|
|