USAO Is Preseason Men's Soccer Favorite In SAC

The Drovers of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma are the clear favorite to win the Sooner Athletic Conference men's soccer title, according to Monday's preseason conference coaches' poll.

USAO received the maximum 10 first-place votes for a perfect score of 100. Coaches were not permitted to rank their own team. The Drovers were 7-0-1 in the SAC last season and 14-1-4 overall.

"As always it is an honor at any time that the SAC coaches feel like our program has a chance to be good," Drovers coach Jimmy Hampton said. "We are ready to start training, and begin the process of focusing on being successful in our first game. We have scheduled our most difficult schedule to date, and our goal is to represent the SAC to the best of our ability so people outside of our conference know just how strong it is in the SAC. There are numerous top teams and coaches in the SAC so we will just do our best to meet the demands of those games one by one."

Oklahoma City is second in the poll with 76 points while John Brown, which received the remaining first-place vote, is third with 73 points. Wayland Baptist is fourth with 72 points.

Oklahoma Baptist is ranked fifth with 63 points, followed by Texas Wesleyan in sixth with 60 points, Mid-America Christian with 50 points and Southwestern Christian with 38.

Northwood is picked ninth with 33 points, St. Gregory's 10th with 25 points and Southwestern Assemblies of God 11th with 15 points.

SAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll

School (first-place votes) Points

1. Science & Arts of Oklahoma (10) 100

2. Oklahoma City 76

3. John Brown (1) 73

4. Wayland Baptist 72

5. Oklahoma Baptist 63

6. Texas Wesleyan 60

7. Mid-America Christian 50

8. Southwestern Christian 38

9. Northwood 33

10. St. Gregory's 25

11. Southwestern Assemblies of God 15