RIPON, WIS. -- The 2009 Midwest Conference coaches have spoken, choosing Carroll University to repeat as MWC champions this season. 2008 Coach of the Year Rick Mobley will direct a roster of MWC notables who led the league in nearly every statistical category en route to their first MWC Championship title last season. This season, the Pioneer roster will be headlined by senior midfielder Craig Carlson, the 2008 Player of the Year, and three other All-MWC picks; senior midfielder Marc Hieptas, senior forward Andy Prentice and junior defender Justin Ziegler.

Only one point separated Carroll from St. Norbert in the 2009 Preseason Coaches Poll. Carroll received six of the ten first-place votes, with the remaining four going to second place St. Norbert. The Green Knights return the most All-MWC selections in 2009 with six. Forward Adam Sanchez is back for his senior campaign after leading the league in points per game a year ago. Grinnell was an outright third place selection in this year’s poll followed by Lawrence in fourth. Grinnell will use the versatility of senior midfileder Alex Exarhos to their advantage as they push for a MWC title while Lawrence will have two-time All-MWC senior defender Nico Walker to provide power and leadership on defense.

Three new coaches enter the season with teams poised to compete for a top five finish. Beloit finished fifth in the poll ahead of first-year head coach Chris Bergmann’s Lake Forest squad. However, the Buccaneers and Foresters were only separated by five points. Illinois College finished as a clear cut seventh, while Monmouth and new head coach Lance Gordon’s Ripon Red Hawks were seperated by one point as they finished eighth and ninth, respectively, in the poll.

In his first season of collegiate coaching, Jeff Bernhardt will inherit a Prairie Fire team that is predicted to finish tenth. However, will use a Knox roster with a plethora of youth and talent to his advantage as he looks to bring his past coaching successes to the MWC.

--2009 MWC Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll--

Rnk Team (1st place votes)
1. Carroll (6)
2. St. Norbert (4)
3. Grinnell
4. Lawrence
5. Beloit
6. Lake Forest
7. Illinois College
8. Monmouth
9. Ripon
10. Knox


For brief team-by-team season previews visit http://www.midwestconference.org/msoccer/MS_PP_09.pdf