Contributed
(August 18, 2010)

The Auburn University at Montgomery men’s soccer team was selected 17th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men’s Soccer Coaches’ Preseason Top-25 Poll, which was released on Tuesday.

The Senators, who finished the 2009 season 13-4-2 overall and fell to Lee University in the SSAC Tournament Championship match, received 234 total votes and have now been ranked for 100 consecutive week in the NAIA Top-25 polls, dating back to Sept. 12, 2000. Following AUM, Lindsey Wilson and Simon Fraser have both been ranked in the last 33 straight polls.

“This is just another sign of the groundwork that Brett Teach did to start this program,” head coach Wulf-Dieter Koch said. “We are excited to be selected in the preseason poll, but we have a very tough schedule and will have to fight every match if we want to prove we are deserving of the ranking.”

Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College, the defending national champion, was the near-unanimous selection to repeat as champions, receiving 19 of 20 first-place votes and 560 total votes. The Master’s College (Calif.) was chosen second with a total of 538 votes, while Simon Fraser University (B.C.) was voted third with 518 total votes. Martin Methodist College (Tenn.) was voted sixth and received the only other first-place vote.

AUM was joined in the poll by fellow Southern States Athletic Conference member Southern Polytechnic State University (Ga.), which was voted ninth, as well as William Carey University (Miss.), which was 19th. The University of Mobile was among the others receiving votes.

The Senators kick off their 2010 season on Thursday, August 18, by hosting NCAA Division II foe West Florida. The match is slated to begin at 3 p.m. Students and fans are encouraged to wear orange, as well as become a member of the AUMazing fan club to received a free orange t-shirt.

Koch and the Senators will return nine players from the 2009 squad, including junior third-team All-American Stefan Arnarson and co-captains Nik Chamberlain and Gunnar Kristinsson. The team also welcomes 15 newcomers, including 14 freshmen.

In 2009, Arnarson led AUM with 13 goals, while adding three assists. Kristinsson started 16 matches for the Senators as a midfielder, scoring two goals and assisting on two others. Chamberlain returns after missing last season with a knee injury.

Perhaps the biggest question mark for the Senators in 2010 will be in goal. Junior Steve Keller is the front runner to assume the staring keeper duties, but will be challenged by sophomore Ben Koch and freshman Pedro Uchoa. Keller has started 11 matches for AUM during his career, and he posted a 3-0 record in three starts last season.

West Florida finished 2009 with an 11-6-2 overall record and was selected as the preseason Gulf South Conference favorite for the ninth consecutive season earlier this month.

Ticket prices for all home AUM soccer matches are $4 for adults and $2 for students.

POLL

Name (First-Place Votes) – Total Votes

1. Lindsey Wilson (19) – 560

2. The Master’s College – 538

3. Simon Fraser University – 518

4. University of Rio Grande – 514

5. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – 46

6. Martin Methodist University (1) – 439

7. Notre Dame College – 438

8. Biola University – 436

9. Southern Polytechnic State University – 416

10. Benedictine College – 380

11. University of Maine at Fort Kent – 349

12. Bethel University – 344

13. Azusa Pacific University – 339

14. Columbia College – 329

15. Hastings College – 325

16. University of Texas at Brownsville – 253

17. Auburn University at Montgomery – 234

18. Bethel College – 231

19. William Carey University – 208

20. Science and Arts of Oklahoma – 189

T21. McKendree University – 167

T21. Bellevue University – 167

23. Indiana Institute of Technology – 166

24. Baker University – 162

25. Ashford University - 158