2017 Horizon League Men's Soccer Preseason Poll

INDIANAPOLIS (August 21, 2017) – Oakland has been voted the 2017 Horizon League Men’s Soccer favorite. The Golden Grizzlies topped the ranking with 86 points, followed by UIC with 85 points. The poll was voted on by the League’s 10 head coaches.

Oakland returns seven starters from 2016, including Horizon League All-Freshman Team forward Nebojsa Popovic, who netted four goals and dished out three assists. Also returning for the Golden Grizzlies is senior midfielder Austin Ricci, who recorded five goals and five assists last season.

2016 Horizon League Tournament Champion UIC followed in second place in this season’s preseason poll. Five starters return for UIC including 2016 All-Horizon League first team performer Max Todd, who led his team with 8 goals on the season.

Wright State checks in at third place with 81 points after an 11-win season and a trip to the Horizon League Championship game in 2016. Milwaukee followed in fourth (68 points) with Cleveland State (54) and Detroit Mercy (51) checking in at Nos. five and six, respectively.Green Bay came in seventh. Northern Kentucky follows in eighth with Belmont behind in ninth place. IUPUI rounds out the poll.

The regular season begins Friday, August 25, and the 2017 Horizon League Championship will be held November 6-9-11 at the home field of the highest seed that meets facility requirements.

2017 Horizon League Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll
Team Pts. (1st)
1. Oakland  86 (1)
2. UIC  85 (6)
3. Wright State  81 (2)
4. Milwaukee  68
5. Cleveland State  54
6. Detroit Mercy  51 (1)
7. Green Bay  45
8. Northern Kentucky  38
9. Belmont  27
10. IUPUI  15