Soccer Picked Third in MAC Preseason Coaches Poll

CLEVELAND, Ohio - - The Ball State soccer program was picked to finish third in the 12-team Mid-American Conference race in the league's annual preseason coaches poll, as announced Wednesday (Aug. 18).

After briefly switching back to divisions for the COVID-19 adjusted 2021 spring schedule, the MAC moved back to its 12-team, non-divisional format which it utilized for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. BSU capitalize on the move back to divisions last year, winning its fourth straight MAC West Division title in the divisional format (2015, 2016, 2017 & 2020-21).

Buffalo was selected as the 2021 preseason favorite, securing seven of the 12 first-place votes and 136 total points. Bowling Green was picked second with the remaining five first-place votes and 132 points. Following the Cardinals (119 points) in third were Western Michigan (93), Eastern Michigan (90), Central Michigan (83), Miami (71), Ohio (67), Kent State (53), Akron (37), Toledo (34) and Northern Illinois (21).

Ball State also picked up one of the 12 votes to win the 2021 MAC Tournament Championship. BGSU led that race with six votes, followed by UB at four. WMU picked up the final vote to win the event.

The Cardinals open the 2021 season Sunday, when it travels to Valparaiso for a 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT contest against the Beacons. It will be the first regular season non-conference match for Ball State since Sept. 20, 2019, as the team played a league-only schedule this past spring.

League play begins Thursday, Sept. 23 when the Cardinals host Eastern Michigan at 4 p.m. at the Briner Sports Complex. Ball State will play an 11-match MAC schedule this season, concluding the regular season Thursday, Oct. 28 at home against Miami.

The six-team MAC Soccer Tournament will begin Sunday, Oct. 31 with quarterfinal action at the two highest seeds. The top two seeds, who both earn an opening-round bye, will host semifinal action Thursday, Nov. 4. The championship match will be played at the highest remaining seed Sunday, Nov. 7.

The Cardinals finished the non-traditional 2020-21 spring season with a 6-3-1 record, winning five of its last six regular season contests to secure a spot in the MAC Championship match for the second time in the past three seasons.

BSU returns all four players who earned All-MAC honors last season in first team selections Nicky Potts and Lexy Smith, second team honoree Tatiana Mason, and all-freshman choice Mac Henson. In addition, head coach Josh Rife is the reigning MAC Coach of the Year.

2021 MAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
(First Places Votes)
1. Buffalo (7) – 136 points
2. Bowling Green (5) – 132 points
3. Ball State – 119 points
4. Western Michigan – 93 points
5. Eastern Michigan – 90 points
6. Central Michigan – 83 points
7. Miami – 71 points
8. Ohio – 67 points
9. Kent State – 53 points
10. Akron – 37 points
11. Toledo – 34 points
12. Northern Illinois – 21 points
Tournament Champion: Bowling Green (6), Buffalo (4), Ball State (1), Western Michigan (1)

Players Mentioned

Mac Henson

Tatiana Mason

Nicky Potts

Lexy Smith

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