CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Loras Men's Soccer, winners of 18 straight Iowa Conference games and four straight titles, are the coaches choice to win the 2016 IIAC Men's Soccer championship. Loras was chosen first on six ballots and earned 61 points to take the No. 1 ranking in the Coaches Preseason Poll.
Loras' 61 points come from six first place votes, a second place vote, and a third place choice (coaches do not vote for their own team). Luther is second with 56 points including three first place votes, two second place, and three third places votes. 2015 runner-up Dubuque comes in at No. 3 with 50 points on four seconds, two thirds, and two fourth place votes. Wartburg is fourth with 46 points highlighted by two second place votes. Simpson is fifth with 36 points. IIAC newcomer Nebraska Wesleyan projects to earn to the final Iowa Conference Tournament spot with 26 points for sixth.
Central is picked to finish seventh with 24 points while Coe is in eighth with 16 points. Buena Vista takes the nine spot with nine points.
The complete 2016 IIAC Men's Soccer Coaches Poll is as follows.
| Rank |
School (1st place votes) |
Points |
2015 Record |
| 1. |
Loras (6) |
61 |
18-5-1, 7-0-0 IIAC |
| 2. |
Luther (3) |
56 |
11-6-3, 4-2-1 IIAC |
| 3. |
Dubuque |
50 |
12-6-1, 5-2-0 IIAC |
| 4. |
Wartburg |
46 |
11-6-2, 4-3-0 IIAC |
| 5. |
Simpson |
36 |
9-9-3, 4-2-1 IIAC |
| 6. |
Nebraska Wesleyan |
26 |
9-8-1, 3-6-1 GPAC |
| 7. |
Central |
24 |
4-13-0, 1-6-0 IIAC |
| 8. |
Coe |
16 |
6-13-1, 2-5-0 IIAC |
| 9. |
Buena Vista |
9 |
5-12-0, 0-7-0 IIAC |
NSCAA Preseason Poll: Iowa Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champion Loras is ranked No. 2 in the NSCAA Division III Men's Soccer Top 25 Preseason Poll. Loras finished the 2015 season as NCAA Division III runner-up.
New Coaches: None.
The Schedule: The 2016 season kicks off on September 1 with Coe, Dubuque, Loras, Luther, Simpson and Wartburg in action. Buena Vista and Nebraska Wesleyan start the new year off on September 2 with a pair of road contests. Central is the final team to begin the season as they hit the road for a September 3 opener in Michigan. The 2016 Iowa Conference schedule begins on Saturday, September 24 with four games. The IIAC season is an eight game round robin schedule finishing on October 25.
IIAC Tournament: The top six teams qualify for the 2016 tournament which begins on October 29 with the 4/5 seeds and the 3/6 seeds meeting at the lower seeds home field. The winners of the opening round games will face the 1 and 2 seeds on November 2. The semifinal winners will face-off on November 5 for the tournament title and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
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Loras College
Head Coach: Dan Rothert (2015 IIAC Coach of the Year)
2015 Record: 18-5-1 overall, 7-0-0 in the IIAC
Returning All-IIAC: Jacob Peterson (First Team GK); Alex Bradley (First Team F); Spencer Moore (Second Team MF).
Coaches Take: "Coming off our national runner up season, we have big expectations again in 2016. We have a very good good mix of experience and newcomers that should put us in another good position both in the conference and nationally. Our conference has become deeper over the last few years and prepares teams well for the post season.” |
| Players to Watch: |
| Jacob Peterson -GK (Jr.) |
17-5-1 record // 0.81-gaa // 79-saves // 9-shutouts |
| Alex Bradley - F (Sr.) |
6-goals // 7-assists // 5-game winners // 20-games started |
| Spencer Moore - MF/F (Jr.) |
4-goals // 2-assists // 24-games started |
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Luther College
Head Coach: Chris Garcia-Prats
2015 Record: 11-6-3 overall, 4-2-1 in the IIAC
Returning All-IIAC: Myles Norville (First Team D); Nigel Nielson (First Team MF); Matheus Beato (Second Team MF).
Coaches Take: "We have high expectations for the upcoming season and feel confident in our team. We have 12 seniors in the team and will look to their experience throughout the season. The IIAC continues to be one of the best conferences in the country and it will be extremely competitive again in 2016.” |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Myles Norville - D (Sr.) |
4-goals // 20-game winners |
| Jon Gednalske - F (Sr.) |
1-assist // 2-games started |
| Lucas Beato - MF (Sr.) |
1-game played |
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University of Dubuque
Head Coach: Brad Johnson
2015 Record: 12-6-1 overall, 5-2-0 in the IIAC
Returning All-IIAC: Gonzalo Hernandez (Offensive MVP, First Team F); Danny Daniels (First Team D).
Coaches Take: "There are high expectations for the UD men's soccer program entering the 2016 season. The Spartans will look to an experienced class of returners and an eager class of newcomers to continue our successful ways. The Iowa Conference will once again be very competitive and we are excited to get started.” |
| Players to Watch: |
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| Gonzalo Hernandez - F (Sr.) |
13-goals // 9-assists // 5-game winners // 19-games started |
| Danny Daniels - D (Jr.) |
1-goal // 19-games started |
| Tom Murphy - MF (Sr.) |
3-goals // 19-games started |
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Wartburg College
Head Coach: Kirk Artist
2015 Record: 11-6-2 overall, 4-3-0 in the IIAC
Returning All-IIAC: Paris Martins (First Team MF).
Coaches Take: "Looking forward to a competitive conference season.” |
| Players to Watch: |
|
| Paris Martins - MF (Sr.) |
7-goals // 6-assists // 2-game winners // 19-games started |
| Garrett Grimsman - D (Jr.) |
1-assist // 16-games started |
| Jay Tegge - MF (Jr.) |
2-assists // 16-games started |
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Simpson College
Head Coach: Rick Isaacson
2015 Record: 9-9-3 overall, 4-2-1 in the IIAC
Returning All-IIAC: Josh Harry (Second Team D); Garrett Pochop (Second Team MF).
Coaches Take: "It appears the IIAC will again be one of the top soccer conferences in the nation. We expect the 2016 season to be highly competitive. Our players are eager to get underway." |
| Players to Watch: |
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| Garrett Pochop - MF (Jr.) |
7-goals // 3-assists // 21-games started |
| Nick Joslyn - MF (Jr.) |
1-goal // 3-assists // 21-games started |
| Josh Harry - D (Sr.) |
1-goal // 2-assists // 21-games started |
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Nebraska Wesleyan University
Head Coach: Tudor Flintham
2015 Record: 9-8-1 overall
Returning All-IIAC: None (First year in IIAC)
Coaches Take: "Last year we showed well against the IIAC teams but again we are new to the conference so much will depend on how quickly we can adapt. We are very young and very talented... sometimes that youth can help you... but it looks like one of the closest and most competitive years in the IIAC for a while. Anything could happen and really its exciting to be in a conference where any of four or five could be lifting silverware in November." |
| Players to Watch: |
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| Brady Blazek - F (Jr.) |
10-goals // 6-assists // 2-game winners // 16-games started |
| Will Weber - D (Sr.) |
5-goals // 18-games started |
| Jack Nespor - GK (Jr.) |
8-8-1 record // 1.61-gga // 89-saves // 4-shutouts |
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Central College
Head Coach: Garry Laidlaw
2015 Record: 4-13-0 overall, 1-6-0 in the IIAC
Returning All-IIAC: None.
Coaches Take: "Returning to the conference tournament will be something we will be working towards this season. Once again our conference looks competitive both regionally and nationally which I expect will be evident throughout the league slate." |
| Players to Watch: |
| Josh Carpenter - GK (Sr.) |
4-10-0 record // 2.04-gaa // 68-saves // 2-shutouts |
| Adelmo Marchiori IV - B (Sr.) |
17-games started |
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Coe College
Head Coach: Homer Screws
2015 Record: 6-13-1 overall, 2-5-0 in the IIAC
Returning All-IIAC: None.
Coaches Take: “We are excited about the upcoming journey and building on last season. Without a doubt the IIAC will be even more challenging with the addition of Nebraska Wesleyan.” |
| Players to Watch: |
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| Ali Al-Yasseri - MF (Jr.) |
13-games started |
| Ben Mineck - D (Sr.) |
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Buena Vista University
Head Coach: Ben McArthur
2015 Record: 5-12-0 overall, 0-7 in the IIAC
Returning All-IIAC: None.
Coaches Take: "I feel the competition in the IIAC will be as high as ever. 4 or 5 teams could win the conference with Luther being the favorites." |
| Players to Watch: |
| Matt Tennyson - GK (Sr.) |
1-1-0 record // 2.61-gaa // 19-saves |
| Jacob Heath - D (So.) |
2-goals // 17-games started |
