Midwestern State is the favorite in the Southwest Soccer Conference as the league's annual preseason poll was released on Thursday.
The Mustangs received nine of 11 first-place votes on the ballots cast by the league's head coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives. MSU totaled 53 points to finish ahead of West Texas A&M.
WTAMU collected the other two first-place nods and finished with 46 points, while Northeastern State was third with 29, Eastern New Mexico fourth with 20 and Missouri Southern fifth with 17.
MSU and WTAMU shared the SSC title last year with identical 7-1 conference records. The Mustangs were 18-3-2 overall and advanced to the national semifinals.
The Southwest Soccer Conference (SSC), formed in 2004, is an alliance of five men's soccer teams that span four states and two NCAA Division II conferences. The membership includes four Lone Star Conference teams (Eastern New Mexico, Midwestern State, Northeastern State and West Texas A&M) and one Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association team (Missouri Southern).
The schedule of games begins in late August. Each of the five SSC teams will play the other twice during the regular season, with those contests determining the conference champion.
SSC Preseason Poll
1 Midwestern State (9) 53
2 West Texas A&M (2) 46
3 Northeastern State 29
4 Eastern New Mexico 20
5 Missouri Southern 17
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Everson, Swann earn SSC preseason honors
West Texas A&M's Ben Everson and Midwestern State's Robert Swann were selected as the Southwest Soccer Conference Preseason Players of the Year for 2008 league officials announced Thursday.
Everson was recognized as SSC Offensive Preseason Player of the Year, while Swann was named SSC Defensive Preseason Player of the Year. The honors were voted upon by the league's head coaches and sports information directors and various media representatives.
Everson, a 5-10 sophomore forward from Middlesbrough, England, received five of nine votes cast for offensive honors to finish in front of MSU's Ahmad Ihmeidan, Tyler Murphy and Kyle Kmiec.
Everson made the most of his first season, emerging as one of the country's leading goal scorers, with 14 on the season to go along with his team leading point total of 31 to earn first team All-SSC and Freshman of the Year honors.
Swann, a 6-1 senior defender from Sunderland, England, was the top choice on defense on six of nine ballots, while teammate Jeremy Turner and WTAMU's Shane Taylor also received votes.
From his center back position, Swann spearheaded a defense that allowed 13 goals in 23 matches including a school-record breaking 12 shutouts. The first-team All-SSC selection also scored six goals and was the team's penalty kicker converting all four of his chances this season.
The Southwest Soccer Conference (SSC), formed in 2004, is an alliance of five men's soccer teams that span four states and two NCAA Division II conferences. The membership includes four Lone Star Conference teams (Eastern New Mexico, Midwestern State, Northeastern State and West Texas A&M) and one Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association team (Missouri Southern).
The slate of games begins in late August with each of the five SSC teams playing the other twice during the regular season.
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