Warriors top MAC Commonwealth Preseason Poll

The Warriors are predicted to finish first in the MAC Commonwealth Preseason Poll.

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – For the first time since in at least 15 years, Messiah College will head into a men’s soccer season not the favorite in the MAC Commonwealth, as Lycoming College will head into the 2006 season as the pick to repeat as conference champions, the conference office in Annville, Pa., announced on Friday, Aug. 26.

Ranked 10th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division III Preseason Poll, the Warriors edged out Messiah for the top spot in the MAC Commonwealth with six first-place votes and 62 total points, while Messiah finished with three-first place votes and 59 points. The Falcons had been preseason favorites in the MAC Commonwealth every year from 2001-15, winning 11 conference titles in that span.

Arcadia (43) edged out Lebanon Valley (42) for third in the poll, with Alvernia (34) also taking one of the five projected conference championship slots. Widener (31), Hood (28), Stevenson (17) and Albright (8) round out the poll.

The Warriors finished 18-2-2 in 2015, winning their second MAC Commonwealth title in three years and advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16.

The 2016 team returns three all-region players, led by Second Team All-American juniorKyle Thomas (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright). Junior midfielders Jordan Logan (Oxford, Pa./Oxford Area) and Abdullahi Abdi (Seattle, Wash./James Garfield) were both Second Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region selections.

The Warriors will kick off the 2016 season on Thursday, Sept. 1, when they will face Rowan University, a 2015 NCAA Tournament team, at 4 p.m. at the Shangraw Athletic Complex.

2016 MAC Commonwealth Men's Soccer Preseason Poll

Rank Team Points (1st Place Votes)

1 Lycoming 62 (6)

2 Messiah 59 (3)

3 Arcadia 43

4 Lebanon Valley 42

5 Alvernia 34

6 Widener 31

7 Hood 28

8 Stevenson 17

9 Albright 8


2015 MAC Commonwealth Men's Soccer Final Standings

Finish Team Conf. Overall

1 Lycoming 7-0-1 18-2-2

2 Messiah 7-1-0 14-5-1

3 Lebanon Valley 5-3-0 8-10-0

4 Arcadia 4-2-2 11-7-3

5 Widener 4-4-0 9-10-1

6 Hood 3-5-0 12-9-0

7 Alvernia 2-5-1 9-7-6

8 Stevenson 2-6-0 5-12-1

9 Albright 0-8-0 1-15-1