RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Rogers State men's soccer was picked to finish third in the 2022 GAC/MIAA Men's Soccer Preseason Poll, the league announced on Thursday. The poll is voted on by the league's seven head coaches.
Last year, the Hillcats finished the season ranked third after coming up just short against the eventual conference champion Fort Hays State in the GAC/MIAA Tournament Semifinal. RSU was again picked to finish third as they received one first place vote with 27 total points.
The Hillcats must replace three First-Team All-GAC/MIAA selections in
Callum Hubble,
Jaxon Pitt and Mike Turner. However, they return
Ruben Carrasco, who was second on the team with six goals, and goalkeeper
Declan Viljoen who posted a 0.87 goals-against average with six shutouts in his freshman season.
Fort Hays State was tabbed to repeat as the league's top team with four first place votes and 34 total points. Southern Nazarene was picked to finish second with the two remaining first place votes and 31 total points.
RSU, Northeastern State (20 points) and Harding (18 points) closed out the top five. Newman (10 points) and Ouachita Baptist (7 points) rounded out the poll.
The Hillcats open the 2022 season at home on Thursday, Aug. 25 as they play host to Eastern New Mexico. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. The GAC/MIAA Championships will feature the top four teams hosted by the top seed for semifinals on Friday, November 4 and the final set for Sunday, November 6.
