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The Mississippi College Men’s Soccer team has been picked to finish 7th in the 2016 Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll. It was announced on Thursday (Aug. 4).
The Choctaws, who kick their regular season off on the road against Nova Southeastern on Sept. 2, tallied 21 total points in their return to the poll after over 20 years in Division III. The men’s team received three 5th place votes, four 7th place votes and one 8th place vote.
West Alabama (59 points) is the preseason favorite to win the GSC after capturing its second straight GSC Tournament Championship Trophy last season. The Tigers were the lone GSC men’s soccer team to advance to the NCAA South Region Super 2 in 2015. They received six of the nine first-place votes.
West Florida (51 points), who received two first-place votes, was picked to finish second. UAH (47 points) was picked to finish third and received the other first-place vote.
Christian Brothers (46 points), Lee (45 points) and Shorter (24 points) sit in front of the Choctaws at 4ththrough 6th place, while Delta State (18 points) and Union (13 points) finish out the preseason picks.
“We look forward to the season starting and improving from last year’s performance,” head coach Kevin Johns said. “We have some talent from last year returning, as well as some new players. We look forward to the challenge. ”
The preseason all-conference selections were also announced, which includes 12 members. MC was not eligible to have players selected for the preseason All-GSC team.
Nine of the ten schools had two incoming players named to the 2016 Top Newcomers list. Junior forwardMarco Profumo (Arenzano, Italy) and freshman defender Ben Roberts (Birkenhead, England) were chosen as MC’s represenatives.
Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC is currently in transition to Division II and the Gulf South Conference, optimistically looking toward July when they will find out about clearing the final hurdle of transition and being full members for the 2016-17 academic year.
The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Softball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.
For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.
