-----Andy Bacon

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Southern Illinois at Edwardsville has been chosen as the preseason favorite to claim the Great Lakes Valley Conference men’s soccer championship.

SIUE collected 168 points from the coaches in the preseason poll. The Cougars collected 12 first-place votes to earn the favorite's role. Rockhurst finished with 154 points and one first-place vote and was picked second in the poll.

SIUE posted a 16-3-3 overall record last season and finished 11-0-1 in league play. The Cougars advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four before falling to Franklin Pierce.

Northern Kentucky University finished sixth in the preseason poll with 105 points. The Norse posted an 11-8-2 record last year, including a 6-5-2 mark in the GLVC.

NKU welcomes back leading scorer Tony Capurro, who netted five goals and added four assists last season. Defensive standout Andy Bacon also returns to the NKU lineup for his third season as a starter.

NKU opens its season Aug. 25 in the John Toebben Classic, presented by National City. The Norse will take on Salem International at 7:30 p.m. at Wilder, Ky.

On Aug. 27, NKU will face West Virginia Wesleyan in the final game of the John Toebben Classic.

2006 GLVC men's soccer preseason poll

Team, (first-place votes), total points
1. SIU Edwardsville (12) 168
2. Rockhurst (1) 154
3. Quincy (1) 139
4. UW-Parkside 136
5. Lewis 124
6. Northern Kentucky 105
7. Drury 83
8. Indianapolis 82
9. Missouri-Rolla 78
10. Bellarmine 74
11. Missouri-St. Louis 47
12. Southern Indiana 44
13. Saint Joseph’s 27
14. Kentucky Wesleyan 13