Titans Ranked 20th In National Preseason Poll
The UW-Oshkosh men's soccer team opens the 2014 season ranked 20th in the NCAA Division III, according to a preseason poll conducted by the NSCAA.
UW-Oshkosh, the lone WIAC member ranked in the top 25, returns 16 letter winners from last year's squad that compiled a 15-2-4 record and competed in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship.
Two-time defending national champion Messiah College (Pa.) earned the top spot in the poll, while Rutgers-Camden University (N.J.) ranked second and both Amherst College (Mass.) and Loras College (Iowa) third.
Rounding out the top-10 listings were fifth-ranked Trinity University (Texas), sixth-ranked Williams College (Mass.), seventh-ranked St. Lawrence University (N.Y.), eighth-ranked Ohio Wesleyan University, ninth-ranked Montclair State University (N.J.) and 10th-ranked Franklin & Marshall College (Pa.).
UW-Oshkosh welcomes back three All-WIAC performers from a year ago. Karl Bock (Jr. • Defender) was named the league's Co-Defensive Player of the Year, while Sam Gabrilska (So. • Goalkeeper) and Jacob Hernandez (So. • Midfielder) both collected second-team mention.
UW-Oshkosh's 2014 schedule features 19 matches, including a visit to nationally ranked Loras College on Sept. 21. The Titans start their season with matches at Central College (Iowa) on Aug. 29 and Nebraska Wesleyan University on Aug. 30 before hosting Wisconsin Lutheran College on Sept. 3.
UW-Oshkosh begins its 31st season with an all-time record of 398-113-50. The Titans have reeled off 29 consecutive winning seasons and been a NCAA Division III postseason participant 13 times.