Making its first appearance as a conference-sponsored program since the 1998 season, the Truman men’s soccer team was picked fourth in the MIAA preseason poll, as voted on by league coaches .
Head coach Duke Cochran's squad earned 27 points and edged Upper Iowa – an affiliate league member for men’s soccer only – by one point for the No. 4 spot. Fort Hays (Kan.) State led all teams with 46 total points and four first-place votes, while both MIAA-newcomers Northeastern (Okla.) State (41 points) and Lindenwood (Mo.) (40) logged a pair of first-place votes each.
Following Truman and UIU, Harding (Ark.) and Southern Nazarene (Okla.) – another pair of affiliate league members in men’s soccer – earned 19 and 17 points respectively, while first-year program Southwest Baptist came in last with eight points.
The 2012 campaign marks the third go-around for men’s soccer as an official league sport after first appearing from 1981-1988 before returning again from 1994-1998.
Truman has won six league titles all-time and has a program conference record of 34-12-6 (.712) in 13 total seasons.
Truman opens the 2012 season at the Quincy (Ill.) Bowl by facing the host Hawks on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 7:30 pm before battling Missouri S&T on Sunday, Sept. 2 at 5:00 pm.
The Bulldogs will be at home for the first time on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 3:00 pm against Westminster (Mo.).
Courtesy Truman State University
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