Cobbers Inch Up Preseason Rankings

MIAC men's soccer preview courtesy of Matt Higgins and the MIAC office

Complete MIAC preview - http://miacathletics.com/news_links/2013-14_previews/082813a_MSOC_Preview_2013

Last season Carleton and Gustavus were a step ahead of a narrow fight for the MIAC title, as the two shared the crown with identical conference records of 8-1-1 and 25 points. To top it off, the co-champs battled to a scoreless tie in the MIAC Playoff championship, with Gustavus eventually winning 7-6 in a penalty-kick thriller. Both teams advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament to represent the conference on the national stage.

However, the rest of the league was on the Knights' and Gusties' heels all season long. St. Thomas emerged as a contender, finishing third with 22 points. Saint John's got 20 points to take the final MIAC Playoff spot, just in front of Augsburg and St. Olaf, who each ended with 19 points. Saint Mary's was just a game off of a .500 record in the conference and Macalester, Bethel and Hamline rounded out the conference's depth.

So what do last season's results mean for 2013? Hopefully that an encore performance is in the works for the entire league. Nearly all of the league's top individual talents are back, and there should be a huge group of contenders fighting for the MIAC title and the four conference Playoff bids. Defending co-champ Carleton enters with high expectations, ranked No. 22 in Division III, but expect the Gusties, Tommies, Oles, Johnnies and Auggies to again engage in a season-long spat for the conference crown.

COACHES CROWN THE KNIGHTS
The national pundits aren't the only ones expecting Carleton to have an outstanding 2013 season. The MIAC coaches also identified the Knights as the No. 1 contender to claim the 2013 conference championship, as Carleton finished first in the 2013 MIAC Men's Soccer Coaches' Poll. Head Coach Bob Carlson's crew received seven of the 11 first-place votes (coaches could not vote for their own team) and 93 total points to top the predictions.

However, Carleton wasn't the runaway choice to evidence the league's strength at the top. St. Thomas received three first-place votes and was the runner-up in the poll with 87 points, just six behind the favorites. Last year's co-champ and MIAC Playoff winner Gustavus came in third with 77 points, just ahead of fourth-place St. Olaf (75). Saint John's received the final first-place vote and 66 total points to take fifth in the poll, and Augsburg received 53 points in sixth place.

The coaches predict Macalester and Saint Mary's will be neck-and-neck in middle of the pack as the two shared seventh place with 39 points each. Concordia received 35 points in ninth, while Hamline (22 points) and Bethel (19 points) rounded out the final two spots in the poll.

WHAT'S NEW?
After a wave of coaching changes swept through the conference in 2012, things were silent on the coaching front in 2013. Concordia's Ben Schneweis, Hamline's Alex Morawiecki, Macalester's Gregg Olson and Saint Mary's Peter Watkins were all new to the league in 2012, and St. Thomas' Jon Lowery was also assuming his new post after moving over from Hamline. However, the conference's overall strength from a season ago was proven by the stability in the coaching ranks.

St. Olaf's Kurt Anderson celebrates a milestone year as the Ole coach enters his 25th season leading the program. Bob Carlson of Carleton has the second longest tenure as he enters his 17th season with the Knights, and Augsburg's Greg Holker is celebrating a decade coaching the Auggies.

WHO'S BACK?
Who's back in the MIAC in 2013? Almost everyone. Many of the top players from a year ago were underclassmen and are back to lead their teams in 2013. That starts with preseason favorite Carleton and its trio of All-MIAC returners. Sophomore forward Brandon McGarrity had a breakout year as a freshman, setting school records in goals (19) and points (42) en route to Second Team All-American honors. Defender Neil Bartholomay was also one of the MIAC's best, earning Third Team All-American honors, and senior forward Simon Ginet had 34 balanced points with 12 goals and 10 assists.

St. Thomas received its first-place votes in the coaches' poll based on its talented returners. Senior Nick Rapisarda was honored as the MIAC Player-of-the-Year as a junior, as well as an All-MIAC and All-Region selection. As a senior, he'll be looking for more honors, including his fourth-straight All-Conference award. All-MIAC and All-Region defender Kit Weaver also returns to anchor the Tommies on the other end of the field.

Gustavus lost All-American Lucas Thompson to graduation, but has a ton of talent back. Goalkeeper Brett Ylonen had a tremendous sophomore season a year ago, and returns after earning All-MIAC, All-Region and D3soccer.com Third Team All-American honors. Two more talented juniors - Zach Brown and David Lilly - are also back to lead the Gusties after All-MIAC and All-Region seasons a year ago.

St. Olaf also welcomes back its top star in senior forward David Rosenthal. The 2011 MIAC Player-of-the-Year and two-time All-Region selection is fresh off a stint playing for Team USA in the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem. All-MIAC defender Steven Johnson and junior forward Nick Lund are also back for the Oles in 2013.

Saint John's is led again by senior Michael Coborn, who has been All-MIAC in each of his first three seasons with a pair of All-Region honors as well. All-MIAC forward Ian Scudder and All-Conference Honorable Mention defender Joe Balder return for the Johnnies as well. Augsburg said goodbye to three-time All-MIAC defender and 2010 MIAC Player-of-the-Year Chad Gilmer, but All-MIAC goalkeeper Clayton Lynch anchors a strong group of returners that also included All-MIAC Honorable Mention forward Scott Clinton.

Macalester also had a significant loss to graduation, as two-time All-MIAC offensive star Taylor Rasmussen completed his career, but two-time All-MIAC midfielder Robin Forslund will move to forward and leads the Scots offense this season. Senior midfielder Will Mackaman is also back to help lead Macalester. The future is bright at Saint Mary's, as two talented All-MIAC underclassmen return. Junior forward Matt Graber was an All-Conference selection in 2012, while sophomore defender Fernando Camacho was an Honorable Mention selection.

A pair of All-MIAC Honorable Mention selections return to lead Concordia in 2013, as senior defender Michael Forston and junior midfielder Justin Flack both are back to lead the Cobbers. Hamline's top goal-scorer, All-MIAC Honorable Mention midfielder Greg Northrop, is back for the Pipers in 2013, as is junior forward Tyler Tallaksen. Bethel will lean on the talent and experience of senior defender Cody Walkup, who was named All-MIAC Honorable Mention in 2011 and 2012, as well as senior forward Martin Manocchio.

CIRCLE THESE DATES
With the anticipation building, fans don't have to wait much longer as the season is set to open in just 48 hours. A full slate of nonconference action starts the 2013 campaign, with Augsburg, Bethel, Concordia, Gustavus, Hamline, Macalester, Saint John's, Saint Mary's St. Olaf and St. Thomas all in action, and Carleton opens its season just a day later.

The battle for the conference crown begins with a full slate of MIAC games  on Wednesday, Sept. 18, and the championship could again come down to the final day of the regular season, which is Saturday, Nov. 2. The four-team MIAC Playoffs begin with both semifinal games on Nov. 6, and the championship will be played on the field of the top-remaining seed on Saturday, Nov. 9.

Intriguing matchups are spread throughout the MIAC schedule, starting with a rematch of the co-champs on opening day. Gustavus heads to Carleton to relive last year's thrilling regular-season and MIAC Playoff matches on Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. The other two MIAC Playoff teams - St. Thomas and Saint John's - will take their school's long-standing rivalry to the soccer field in Collegeville Oct. 16 at 3:30 p.m.

St. Olaf will host Augsburg on Oct. 29 at 3:30 p.m. in a matchup of teams looking to return to postseason form in 2013. The two teams predicted to share seventh place - Macalester and Saint Mary's - will get to settle the preseason poll tie on the field on the final day of the regular season. The Cardinals host the Scots Nov. 2 at 1 p.m.

Finally, the three teams that rounded out the coaches' poll will all square off in mid-to-late October, as each hopes to progress upwards in the MIAC standings. Hamline hosts Concordia Oct. 12 at 4 p.m., then the Cobbers return home to host the Royals just three days later (Oct. 15) at 1 p.m. The round robin concludes Oct. 26, as Hamline hosts Bethel in a Twin Cities showdown at 1 p.m.

A CLOSER LOOK
The rest of the 2013 MIAC Men's Soccer Preview contains complete results from the 2013 Preseason Coaches' Poll, MIAC Playoff details, helpful links and a preview for each team submitted by their sports information director. The new MIAC web site - www.miacathletics.com - will be an outstanding source for MIAC men's soccer news, schedules, scores, stats and more throughout the 2013 season.

Visit the MIAC scoreboard on game days to follow all the action, and download the MIAC mobile app to have all the information with you anywhere you travel. Also, connect to the conference on its Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages for updates and interaction all season long.

2013 MIAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll

Coaches voted for every team in the conference except their own team. Points were assigned for each vote (10 for first, nine for second, etc.) Teams are ranked in order of highest point total to lowest with vote totals listed and first-place votes shown in parentheses.