ST. LOUIS – The Drake University men's soccer team has been picked second in the 2016 Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll as voted on by the league's coaches.
Drake, the defending MVC Tournament champions bring back nine starters from last season's team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Offensively, the Bulldogs will be led by senior midfielder James Wypych, who scored a team-leading seven goals and top assist leader, senior Mueng Sunday, who handed out seven assists on the season. Senior Ben LeMay returns after scoring three goals and handing out four assists. All three earned all-conference accolades in 2015.
The Bulldogs' defense will be led by senior goalie Darrin MacLeod, who started all 21 matches as a junior, and posted a .769 save percentage and 1.14 goals against average. Senior defender James Grunert returns as well. Grunert scored the game-winning goal to beat Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
SIUE, the defending MVC regular season champions, received 45 points and four first-place votes to outdistance Drake at 39 points and one first-place vote. Rounding out the poll in order is Loyola (34 points), Missouri State (32 points, two first-place votes), Bradley (25 points), Central Arkansas (12 points) and Evansville (nine points).
Drake has one more exhibition match at Northern Illinois on Aug. 21 before opening the regular season at Pacific on Aug. 26.
