HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men’s soccer team has been picked eighth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference preseason coaches poll, which was released Tuesday by the league office.
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville received nine first-place votes and 99 points to edge Lewis University (92 points) for the top spot in the poll. SIUE posted a 16-4-1 record last season, while Lewis finished 12-5-2 and captured the GLVC Tournament championship.
NKU finished 4-9-3 in 2003. The Norse also posted a 2-5-3 mark in the GLVC. NKU welcomes back five starters from last season.
Senior goalie Nate Madden posted a 1.35 goals against average a year ago and returns to the NKU lineup. Junior defender David Lies and junior midfielder Randy Walters will also be keys this season.
NKU will open the season Aug. 28 against Saginaw Valley State University at 2 p.m. at the Town & Country Sports Complex in Wilder, Ky.
This year’s GLVC Tournament will feature a new format of the top six teams instead of eight. The top two seeds will receive first-round byes, and the No. 1 seed will play host to the semifinals and finals.
The semifinals will be played Nov. 5, with the championship on Nov. 7.
2004 GLVC men’s soccer preseason poll (total points)
1. SIU-Edwardsville (99)
2. Lewis (92)
3. Wisconsin-Parkside (77)
4. Quincy (73)
5. Southern Indiana (68)
6. Bellarmine (45)
7. Missouri-St. Louis (42)
8. Northern Kentucky (36)
9. Indianapolis (35)
10. Saint Joseph’s (28)
11. Kentucky Wesleyan (10)
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Nate Madden |