CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Results of the 2018 American Rivers Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Poll (as voted on by the league's head coaches):
| 2018 American Rivers Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| Rank |
School (1st place votes) |
Points |
2017 Record |
| 1. |
Loras (5) |
61 |
14-6-1, 6-2 Conference (Conference Tournament Champion) |
| 2. |
Luther (4) |
60 |
11-4-5, 6-1-1 Conference (Conference Regular Season Champion) |
| 3. |
Dubuque |
44 |
8-6-3, 4-2-2 Conference |
| 4. |
Wartburg |
43 |
8-5-5, 3-3-2 Conference |
| 5. |
Simpson |
34 |
15-3-2, 5-2-1 Conference |
| 6. |
Nebraska Wesleyan |
30 |
11-7-1, 5-3 Conference |
| 7. |
Central |
26 |
10-6, 3-5 Conference |
| 8. |
Buena Vista |
16 |
4-13-1, 1-7 Conference |
| 9. |
Coe |
10 |
3-14, 0-8 Conference |
Loras Men's Soccer, who have shared or won outright conference titles in 10 of the last 12 years, are the coaches' choice to win the 2018 American Rivers Conference championship. The 2017 conference tournament champion Duhawks were chosen first on five ballots (coaches do not vote on their own team) and earned 61 points. 2017 regular season conference champion, Luther, earned the No. 2 ranking, garnering four first-place votes and 60 points. In the eyes of the coaches, these two teams will once again vie for the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Dubuque and Wartburg were picked to finish third and fourth, earning 44 and 43 points respectively. Simpson earned 34 points in the coaches' poll to take fifth, followed by Nebraska Wesleyan in sixth with 30 points. Should the preseason poll forecast an end of season outcome, these top six teams would qualify for the conference tournament. Looking to shake up the preseason poll will be Central, Buena Vista, and Coe. Who finished seventh, eighth, and ninth respectively.
United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll (Formerly the NSCAA): Loras College is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Division III preseason poll.
New Coaches:
Matt Travis,
Coe College. Travis comes to Coe after a two-year stint as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at nationally-ranked Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. Prior to coaching at Amherst, Travis served as the graduate assistant men's soccer coach at Montreat College in Montreat, North Carolina, for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Travis also served as a state staff head coach for the Olympic Development Program in North Carolina. Travis received a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education from Old Dominion in Norfolk, Virginia, and earned a Master of Arts in Leadership Management at Montreat College.
Brandon Bonilla, Nebraska Wesleyan University. Bonilla is a graduate of Texas A&M University where was the soccer team manager for four years while completing his undergraduate degree in leadership and development. He has his USSF "C" License and NSCAA Advanced National Goalkeeper "Level 1 and 2" badges. Bonilla spent the past season as a full-time assistant for both the Prairie Wolves men's and women's soccer programs. Prior to 2017 Bonilla spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Houston and held the same duties at Houston Baptist for four years.
The Schedule: Eight of the league's nine institutions kick off the 2018 season on Friday, August 31st and Nebraska Wesleyan follows on Sunday, September 2nd. Buena Vista is set to host Concordia College (Minn.) out of the MIAC and Central will travel to the WIAC's UW-Platteville. Coe will travel to Midwest Conference member Grinnell, and Dubuque heads to Carroll University, a member of the CCIW. Loras also opens the season with a road trip to a CCIW foe, in Elmhurst. Luther takes to the pitch for the first time at the College of St. Scholastica, a member of the UMAC. Simpson will host Augustana College (Ill.) for the conference's third opening day match-up with the CCIW. Wartburg will travel to Hamline University for a season debut against the MIAC member. Two days after Concordia College (Minn.) faces Buena Vista, the Cobbers make a road trip to Nebraska Wesleyan for the Prairie Wolves' season opener.
The eight-game round robin American Rivers Conference schedule begins on Saturday, September 22nd with four games. Wartburg will travel to Coe for the opening of league play, while Central will host Simpson, Luther will play at Nebraska Wesleyan, and Dubuque will host cross-town rival Loras. Buena Vista debuts in league action on Saturday, September 29th with a road trip to Luther.
Conference Tournament: At the conclusion of the regular season conference schedule, the top six teams move onto the 2018 conference tournament. The tournament begins Saturday, October 27th with the 4/5 seeds and the 3/6 seeds meeting at the higher seeded home pitch. On Wednesday, October 31st the winner of the 4/5 opening round game will travel to the No.1 seed, while the 3/6 winner will make the trip to the No. 2 seed. The semifinal winners will face-off on Saturday, November 3rd (at higher seed home venue) for the tournament title and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
| 1st |
|
Loras College
Head Coach: Dan Rothert
2017 Record: 14-6-1, 6-2 Conference (Conference Tournament Champion)
2017 Conference Finish: 2nd
Returning All-Conference: Javi Simon, Mark Broderick, Ryan Pacholski, Miles McDonnell
Starters Returning: 12
Starters Lost: 4
Dan Rothert - “We are returning a solid core of experience with some talented newcomers and excited for the 2018 season.” |
| Players to Watch: |
| Mark Broderick - M (Jr.) |
17-21 games started // 8-goals // 1-assist // 17-points // 16-SOG |
| Alex Herrera - F (Jr.) |
1-goal // 1-assist |
| Miles McDonnell - M (Jr.) |
20-21 games started // 2-goals // 2-assists |
| Ryan Pacholski - D (Sr.) |
20-20 games started // 1-assist // Team GAA-1.14 |
| Javi Simon - M (Sr.) |
20-21 games started // 13-goals // 2-assists // 28-points // 29-SOG // .592-SOG% |
| 2nd |
|
Luther College
Head Coach: Chris Garcia-Prats
2017 Record: 11-4-5, 6-1-1 Conference (Conference Regular Season Champion)
2017 Conference Finish: 1st
Returning All-Conference: Aidan O'Driscoll (First Team), Brunno Colon (First Team), Ben Keller (First Team), Rafael Broseghini (First Team), Andrew Avram (First Team), Harry Merz (Honorable Mention)
Starters Returning: 9
Starters Lost: 2
Chris Garcia-Prats - “We return a strong core of players from last year's Conference Championship team and add one of our strongest recruiting classes in recent history including the South Dakota and Iowa Player-of-the-Year honorees. The team is excited about the 2018 season and looking forward to the challenges of the American Rivers Conference season!” |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Andrew Avram - M (Sr.) |
Started 13-15 games // 1-goal // 5-assists |
| Rafael Broseghini - M (Sr.) |
Started 19-20 games // 5-goals // 5-assists // 15-points |
| Brunno Colon - F (Sr.) |
Started 18-20 games // 9-goals // 6-assists // 24-points // 45-SOG // .523-SOG% |
| Tristan Davenport - D (Sr.) |
Started 12-15 games // 2-goals // Team GAA-1.05 |
| Ben Keller - F (Jr.) |
20-20 games started // 11-goals // 5-assists // 27-points // 20-SOG // .476-SOG% |
| Aidan O'Driscoll - M (Sr.) |
Started 20-20 games // 1-goal // 3-assists |
| 3rd |
|
University of Dubuque
Head Coach: Brad Johnson
2017 Record: 8-6-3, 4-2-2 Conference
2017 Conference Finish: 5th
Returning All-Conference: Chris Rigby (First Team), Tim Gustavsson (Honorable Mention), Brandon White (Honorable Mention)
Starters Returning: 7
Starters Lost: 4
Brad Johnson - "There are high expectations for the UD Men's Soccer program entering the 2018 season. The Spartans will look to an experienced class of returners and an eager class of newcomers to continue our successful ways. The Conference will once again be very competitive and we are excited to get started." |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Tim Gustavsson - D (So.) |
17-17 games started // 1-goal // Team GAA-1.29 |
| Chris Rigby - M (Jr.) |
16-17 games started // 3-goals // 3-assists // 25-SOG // .347-SOG% |
| Brandon White - GK (So.) |
15-17 games started // 6-5-3 record // 1.20-GAA // 63-saves // 4-shutouts |
| 4th |
|
Wartburg College
Head Coach: Mike Madigan
2017 Record: 8-5-5, 3-3-2 Conference
2017 Conference Finish: 6th
Returning All-Conference: Ben Johnson (First Team), Ayo Adebayo (Honorable Mention), Daniel Luzindya (Honorable Mention)
Starters Returning: 8
Starters Lost: 3
Mike Madigan - “We’re excited about our team and look forward to another great year in the nationally competitive American Rivers Conference” |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Ayo Adebayo - F (Sr.) |
16-18 games started // 4-goals // 1-assist // 22-SOG // .489-SOG% |
| Michael Hegelheimer - D (Sr.) |
17-18 games started // Team GAA-1.11 |
| Ben Johnson - M (Sr.) |
17-18 games started // 8-goals // 1-assist // 24-SOG // .511-SOG% |
| Daniel Luzindya - M (Sr.) |
17-18 games started // 2-goals // 6-assist // 17-SOG // .486-SOG% |
| 5th |
|
Simpson College
Head Coach: Rick Isaacson
2017 Record: 15-3-2, 5-2-1 Conference
2017 Conference Finish: 3rd
Returning All-Conference: Tanner Alderson (First Team), Jake Potratz (First Team)
Starters Returning: 8
Starters Lost: 3
Rick Isaacson - “We are looking forward to the 2018 season. Our conference remains full of quality teams from top to bottom. With the nucleus of our roster returning and the addition of a talented freshman class, we expect to be in another tight race for the league title this fall.” |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Tanner Alderson - M/F (Jo.) |
20-20 games started // 16-goals // 2-assists // 41-SOG // .482-SOG% |
| Jack Arndt - D (Sr.) |
60 starts over past three seasons // 4-assists // Team GAA-1.02 |
| Trevor Fuccio - D (Jr.) |
40 consecutive starts over past two seasons // Team GAA-1.02 |
| Brendan Owings - D (Jr.) |
Started 20-20 games // Team GAA-1.02 |
| Jake Potratz - GK (So.) |
13-3-1 record // .95-GAA / 87-saves // 3-shutouts |
| 6th |
|
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Head Coach: Brandon Bonilla
2017 Record: 11-7-1, 5-3 Conference
2017 Conference Finish: 4th
Returning All-Conference: Jake Kennedy (First Team), Alex Day (Honorable Mention), Luke Livingston (Honorable Mention)
Starters Returning: 6
Starters Lost: 5
Brandon Bonilla - “After a very good season last year we are excited to get going. We plan on starting where we left off and are looking to make this a very memorable year! Our leading goal scorer, Jake Kennedy, returns with a full complement of attacking players to help him. Three players in our back five return and we are very excited about our goal keeping battle. This has the potential to be a great year for the NWU men’s soccer team and we can’t wait to get underway.” |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Alex Day - MF (Sr.) |
18-19 games started // 4-goals // 7-assists // .429-SOG% |
| Jake Kennedy - F (Sr.) |
12-goals // 2-assists // 26-points // 21-SOG // .636-SOG% |
| Hunter Kruse - F (So.) |
19-19 games started // 2-goals // 2-assists // 13-SOG |
| Cam Lawrence - D (So.) |
Started 10-15 games // 1-assist // Team GAA-1.26 |
| Luke Livingston - D (So.) |
Started 18-19 games // 1-goal // 3-assists // Team GAA-1.26 |
| 7th |
|
Central College
Head Coach: Garry Laidlaw
2017 Record: 10-6, 3-5 Conference
2017 Conference Finish: 7th
Returning All-Conference: Miguel Pina (First Team), Daniel Alanis (Honorable Mention), Kiel Pederson (Honorable Mention), Taylor Petkovich (Honorable Mention)
Starters Returning: 7
Starters Lost: 4
Garry Laidlaw - “We have a strong group of returning seniors in addition to a core of other players who’ve gained valuable experience over the last few years in the league. With the addition of a good new group of young players, we believe this will serve us well in a league full of highly competitive division III men’s soccer programs. |
| Players to Watch: |
| Daniel Alanis - M (Sr.) |
16-16 games started // 4-assists |
| Kiel Pederson - D (Sr.) |
16-16 games started // 3-goals // 6-assists |
| Taylor Petkovich - M (Jr.) |
15-15 games started // 1-assist |
| Miguel Pina - F (Sr.) |
16-16 games started // 10-goals // 4-assists // .500-SOG% |
| 8th |
|
Buena Vista University
Head Coach: Ben McArthur
2017 Record: 4-13-1, 1-7 Conference
2017 Conference Finish: 8th
Returning All-Conference: Kevin Edgar (Honorable Mention)
Ben McArthur - “The 2018 American Rivers Conference Men’s Soccer season will not disappoint. Being the tough league it is I am sure there will be a battle for the top 6 positions in the conference to qualify for the conference tournament. It is an exciting time to be coaching in the American Rivers Conference.” |
| Players to Watch: |
| Manuel Garcia Aguilar - GK (Jr.) |
Started 12 games // 1-8-0 record // 1.96-GAA // 29-saves |
| Jared Dow - F (Sr.) |
14-18 games started // 2-goals // 2-assists |
| Kevin Edgar - D (Sr.) |
16-18 games started // Team GAA-1.99 |
| 9th |
|
Coe College
Head Coach: Matt Travis
2017 Record: 3-14, 0-8 Conference
2017 Conference Finish: 9th
Returning All-Conference: None Returning
Starters Returning: 5
Starters Lost: 6
Matt Travis - “There are going to be a lot of new faces on the field for our team this season. I'm looking forward to competing with this group and establishing a new era with Coe Soccer.” |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Alec Balta - GK (Sr.) |
Started 5 games // 2-4-0 record // 3.17-GAA // 39-saves |
| Bobby Charlton - M (Sr.) |
Started 15-17 games // 1-goal // 1-assist |
| Luis Gonzalez - F (So.) |
Started 16-17 games // 1-goal |
