NCAC Men's Soccer

Edited: Aug. 23, 2010

OHIO WESLEYAN FAVORED AS NORTH COAST PREPS FOR 27TH MEN'S SOCCER SEASON

Ohio Wesleyan University emerged as the preseason favorite in balloting by North Coast Athletic Conference men's soccer coaches in the 2010 preseason poll.

The Battling Bishops, who made their NCAA-record 32nd trip to the Division III National Tournament in 2009, earned seven of nine first-place votes cast by league coaches for 79 total points. Kenyon was second in the balloting with 72 points, including one first-place vote. Hiram (59) finished in third, while Denison (55) and Oberlin (40) finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Allegheny (33), Wabash (32), Wittenberg (24) and Wooster (11) rounded out the poll.

During the 33-year tenure of head coach Jay Martin, Ohio Wesleyan holds an overall record of 566-111-47 (.814). The Battling Bishops will return 19 letterwinners and eight starters from last year's squad which finished the season with an 18-2-2 record. Ohio Wesleyan's offense will be bolstered by 2009 NCAC Offensive Player of the Year, senior Tyler Wall (Columbus, OH/Upper Arlington). Wall, a forward, recorded nine goals and 11 assists for 1.32 points per game to lead the Bishop offense in 2009. He is also a three-time, first-team All-NCAC selection for the Bishops. Senior defender Evan Laipple (Westerville, OH/South) will again be the anchor on OWU's defensive unit that limited opponents to just six goals last season. Laipple and Wall were both named First-Team All-Americans last season by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Founded in 1983, the North Coast Athletic Conference is made up of nine academically selective colleges and universities - Allegheny College, Denison University, Hiram College, Kenyon College, Oberlin College, Ohio Wesleyan University, Wabash College, Wittenberg University and the College of Wooster, along with affiliate member, Earlham College (field hockey). DePauw University will join the North Coast beginning with the 2011-12 academic year. the NCAC sponsors 23 championship sports, 11 for men and 12 for women.

2010 NCAC Men's Soccer Poll
North Coast Athletic Conference 2010 preseason men's soccer poll
(first-place votes in parentheses, followed by total points)

1.	Ohio Wesleyan (7)	79
2.	Kenyon (1)	72
3.	Hiram	59
4.	Denison	55
5.	Oberlin	40
6.	Allegheny	33
7.	Wabash (1)	32
8.	Wittenberg	24
9.	Wooster	11