Ball State University Athletics
Soccer Favored to Win MAC West in Preseason Poll
August 15, 2016 | Soccer
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Coming off last year's regular season championship, the Ball State soccer team has been picked to win the Mid-American Conference West Division title again in 2016.
The Cardinals received 11 of the 12 head coaches' first-place votes in the West Division. Defending MAC Tournament champion Western Michigan was picked second and Central Michigan third. The Chippewas received the other first-place vote in the division.
Kent State was picked to win the East Division, followed by Miami and Buffalo. The Golden Flashes and RedHawks each received five first-place votes.
The coaches selected Ball State, Central Michigan and Kent State as the favorites to win the MAC Tournament. All three teams received three votes.
Ball State won the regular season championship last year with a 10-1 league mark (14-3-3 overall). The Cardinals' 30 points in the league standings tied for the second-most in conference history under the 11-game format.
This year's team returns 14 letterwinners and welcomes 10 talented newcomers. The Cardinals posted a 1-0 exhibition victory Sunday over Marshall and will open the regular season Friday at 5 p.m. against Eastern Kentucky at the Briner Sports Complex.
2016 MAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
East Division
1. Kent State (5)
2. Miami (5)
3. Buffalo (2)
4. Ohio
5. Akron
6. Bowling Green
*(first place votes)
West Division
1. Ball State (11)
2. Western Michigan
3. Central Michigan (1)
4. Eastern Michigan
4. Toledo
6. Northern Illinois
*(first place votes)
Tournament Champion (TIE): Ball State (3), Central Michigan (3), Kent State (3)
*(first place votes)
