PDF Release
MVC Men's Soccer Guide/Record Book
ST. LOUIS – Defending MVC regular season champion Loyola has been tabbed as the team to beat in the 2017 MVC men’s soccer chase in a vote conducted by league coaches. The Ramblers received 47 points and five first-place votes in the poll to out-distance Evansville (38 points, one first-place vote) and Missouri State (34 points, one first place vote).
The MVC claimed two bids into the NCAA tournament and had five teams finish the season at or above .500 last fall for the first time since 2011. Loyola finished the season ranked No. 21 after falling to Notre Dame in the second round of the NCAA Tournament,
earning the program’s first ever NCAA tourney win with a win over UIC in the first round. Former member SIUE finished the season ranked No. 22 after a loss at Wake Forest in the Sweet Sixteen.
The Valley will look to build off last season's momentum as league teams return 43 starters (56-percent), including four first-team all-conference players and three who earned second-team accolades.
Loyola, fresh off its first ever MVC regular season title, returns seven starters from last year’s 14-4-1 (6-1-1 MVC) squad that earned the program’s first NCAA tournament win. Offensively, the Ramblers will rely heavily on junior Alec Lasinski, Loyola’s top returning goal scorer from a season ago (7 goals, 4 assists) and senior Elliot Collier (5 goals, 2 assists). Lasinksi was a second-team all-conference selection last season, while Collier earned first-team honors. On defense, Loyola welcomes back the backbone to its back line as junior Grant Stoneman looks to build off last season’s NSCAA All-America honor. The junior was a major contributor for a Loyola defense that boasted a 0.58 goals against average which not only led the Valley, but ranked in the top 10 in all of Division I men’s soccer as well. Stoneman also made his presence felt in the offensive third in 2016, accounting for three goals, all game winners, and an assist. Stoneman was recently named to the watch list for the MAC Hermann Trophy which is awarded to the top player in NCAA Division I soccer annually.
Evansville welcomes back nine starters from a 2016 squad that registered the program’s biggest turnaround, finishing 10-8-3 (4-2-2 MVC) after claiming only three wins in 2015. Evansville will look to follow up last season’s success with the return of several key players, led by captain Ian McGrath. The senior midfielder led the Aces and ranked second in The Valley in scoring with 11 goals and 24 points in 2016. The New Lenox, IL native earned first-team all-conference honors last season and was recently named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list. Junior forward Zac Blaydes also returns to the pitch for the Aces after netting three goals with a MVC-best 10 assists a year ago. Blaydes earned second-team all-conference honors for his efforts. The Aces will also have sophomore Frederik Reimer back in net. As a freshman, Reimer started 18 games, posting a 9-6-2 record between the posts, stopping 50 shots and posting five shutouts.
Missouri State welcomes back six starters after finishing 2016 with a record of 9-8-3 (3-4-1 MVC), while advancing to the MVC Tournament championship game. Head coach Jon Leamy heads into his 26th season at the helm and will look to build off last season’s championship match run. The Bears will be led offensively by junior Jake Buckle. Buckle is the top returning goal scorer for the Bears after netting three goals with three assists (team high) last fall. Senior Liam Priestley is the top returning goalkeeper in the conference after posting an 0.86 goals against average last season. Priestley played in all 20 games for the Bears last season, earning six shutouts on the season.
Central Arkansas returns eight starters from the team that had the most successful Division I season in program history, finishing the campaign 7-7-3 (4-3-1 MVC). Last season also marked the first time Central Arkansas won more than one MVC game, while the Bears closed the season with a 5-0-2 mark in its last seven contests. UCA will look to sophomore Niklas Brodacki (NSCAA All-West Region Second Team) to build upon the best freshman campaign in program history. The Norrkoping, Sweden native earned MVC Freshman of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year honors after leading the conference and ranking first nationally among freshmen with 13 goals and 27 points. He ranked in the top-ten nationally in goals, goals per game, and game-winning goals, while ranking in the top-ten in program history in nine single-season categories. Sophomore Marc Olsen returns in net for the Bears, boasting a 1.16 goals against average with six shutouts in 10 starts as a freshman.
Drake returns five starters from last season's 6-12-1 (2-5-1 MVC) squad. The Bulldogs have a big void to fill after the graduation of last seasons decorated and talented senior class, which included goalkeeper Darrin MacLeod, defender James Grunert and midfielders Ben LeMay and Mueng Sunday. This season, Drake will lean on a group of four seniors, a pair of redshirt juniors and a duo of juniors. That talented group will help lead 11 returning underclassmen and 12 newcomers on the roster. Senior Steven Enna scored five goals with one assist a year ago and will be the top offensive weapon for the Bulldogs this season.
Valparaiso will begin its first season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference after going 10-5-7 a year ago. Valpo will have a new look after carrying a senior-laden team in 2016. Only 10 players return who saw game action a year ago, and four of those appeared in eight games or fewer. The Crusaders had 14 players depart, 12 of whom appeared in 12 games or more. Valpo head coach Mike Avery enters his 11th season in charge of the program just two wins away from matching the program’s record for victories by a head coach of 76 set by Mis’ Mrak (1991-2006). Senior Ramone Howell will look to lead the Crusaders this season after netting three goals with two assists last fall.
Bradley welcomes back six starters from last season’s 2-15-3 (0-7-1 MVC) team. Bradley has fielded one of the youngest rosters in the country the last two years, including the 2016 season when Bradley’s 36-man roster included 27 freshmen and sophomores. The 2017 Bradley roster includes 22 returning lettermen and 17 players who are beginning at least their third year in the program. The Braves also return eight of the 10 players who scored at least one goal last season. Senior Richard Olson is the leading returning goal scorer for the Braves, netting three goals with one assist during the 2016 season.
The 2017 regular-season campaign begins the last weekend in August, with all seven teams in non-conference action. Bradley will host the 2017 MVC Championship, Nov. 7, 8, 10 and 12, in Peoria, Illinois, where all seven league teams will battle it out for the Valley's automatic bid to the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
