PREVIEW: Yellowjacket men prepping for third straight winning season

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the three-time defending conference champion, is the favorite to secure the 2012 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s soccer title according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s sports information directors.

The Warhawks earned three first-place votes in the WIAC predictions and return nine starters from last year’s squad that earned a NCAA Division III Championship berth for the third straight season and 11th time in program history. UW-Whitewater has compiled a 14-0-2 mark against WIAC adversaries during the three seasons that men’s soccer has been recognized as a conference sport.

UW-Superior’s 12 victories in 2011 were the most since the 2006 squad compiled 13 wins.

The Yellowjackets return 12 letterwinners, including seven starters from last year’s squad, and will strive for three-straight winning seasons for the first time in program history.

Junior Alberto Rivero Garcia is the top returning scorer with five goals and 13 points.

Each member of last year’s four-person senior class received All-WIAC recognition and ranked in the top 10 of the league in points per match.

Joe Mooney takes an overall record of 39-31-7 into his fifth season as head coach at UWS.

Rivero was a first-team all-conference pick last season, as was senior Nate Engle, a midfielder.

UWS opens its season by hosting Macalester at noon on Aug. 31 at Public School Stadium in Duluth.

2012 UW-Superior

Men’s Soccer Schedule

Fri., Aug. 31 vs. Macalester (PSS), noon

Sun., Sept. 2 vs. Concordia (PSS), noon

Tue., Sept. 4 vs. Augsburg (PSS), 4 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 8 at Bethel, noon

Sun., Sept. 9 vs. St. Johns (PSS), 5 p.m.

Wed., Sept. 12 at Finlandia, 5:30 p.m.

Mon., Sept. 17 at St. Thomas, 4 p.m.

Tue., Sept. 18 at Crown College, 4 p.m.

Sun., Sept. 23 at Loras College, noon

Tue., Sept. 25 vs. Bethany, 4:30 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 29 vs. Oshkosh (PSS), noon

Tue., Oct. 2 vs. Morris, (PSS), 4 p.m.

Sat., Oct 6 vs. White. (PSS), 4:30 p.m.

Tue., Oct. 9 at Northland College, 4 p.m.

Sun., Oct. 14 at St. Olaf, 2 p.m.

Wed., Oct. 17 at Hamline, 4 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 20 vs. Ripon (PSS), 1:30 p.m.

Wed., Oct. 24 at St. Scholastica, 6:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 27 at UW-Platteville, 2:30 p.m.

Wed., Oct. 31 vs. Finlandia, 4 p.m.

2012 Preseason Predictions

1. UW-Whitewater (3) 12-8-0 8-0

2. UW-Oshkosh (2) 10-6-2 5-3

3. UW-PLATTEVILLE 9-10-1 3-5

4. UW-SUPERIOR 12-6-2 4-4

5. Finlandia 3-11-0 0-8

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