Texas-Tyler has been predicted to repeat as American Southwest Conference men’s soccer champions, it was announced by the ASC office on Tuesday (Aug. 23) after a vote of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

Texas-Tyler, which went 12-3-6 overall (9-2-1 ASC) last season, totaled 434 points and 20 of the possible 30 first-place votes to be the favorites in the annual preseason poll. Head coach Kenny Jones’ Patriots are coming off a season in which they won their second conference title on their home field in the last three years and reached the second round of the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship. UT Tyler scored a league-high 44 goals in 2010, while allowing a league-low 11.

Mississippi College, which went 13-5 overall (9-3 ASC) and reached the ASC title game last season, was picked as the runner-up with 388 points and four first-place votes. Head coach Kevin Johns’ Choctaws tallied a conference-high 12 shutouts in 2010.

Mary Hardin-Baylor (13-4-1, 9-3-1 ASC) was predicted for a third-place finish with 367 points. Texas-Dallas (12-5-2, 8-2-2 ASC), which won conference titles in 2004 and 2007, received 351 points to land in the fourth-place spot. Seven-time ASC champion Hardin-Simmons (11-6, 9-4 ASC) tallied 334 points and one first-place vote to be in the fifth position, while Howard Payne had 286 points to round out what would be the league’s six teams to qualify for the ASC Championship Tournament.

New league member Centenary had 244 points and four first-place votes to be the seventh-place pick. LeTourneau (216 pts.) was eighth, followed by Schreiner (212 pts.) and 2002 ASC champion Texas Lutheran (205 pts.) to conclude the top 10 spots. Ozarks (174 pts.), which claimed the ASC crown in 2003, was eleventh, followed by Concordia Texas (134 pts.), East Texas Baptist (121 pts.), McMurry (86 pts.) and Louisiana College (37 pts.). McMurry had the final first-place vote. 

The 2011 ASC season – the 16th in league history – begins as early as September 1. The six-team, single elimination ASC tournament is slated for November 4-6 at the site of the regular season champion and an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III playoffs will be on the line.

NOTES: New head coaches in the league include Prince Borde (Louisiana College) and Tatenda Chieza (Concordia Texas). . . . Centenary is ineligible for ASC and NCAA postseason play as a reclassifying Division III member.

2011 ASC PRESEASON MEN’S SOCCER POLL
[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors]
Team (first place votes) Points 2010 Record
1. Texas-Tyler (20) 434 13-3-2, 9-2-1 ASC (1st)
2. Mississippi College (4) 388 13-5, 9-3 ASC (2nd)
3. Mary Hardin-Baylor 367 13-4-1, 9-3-1 ASC (4th)
4. Texas-Dallas 351 12-5-2, 8-2-2 ASC (3rd)
5. Hardin-Simmons (1) 334 11-6, 9-4 ASC (6th)
6. Howard Payne 286 12-5-1, 9-4 ASC (5th)
7. Centenary (4) 244 2-7-2, 1-3-2 Summit League (6th)
8. LeTourneau 216 10-8, 7-5 ASC (8th)
9. Schreiner 212 10-5-4, 7-3-3 ASC (7th)
10. Texas Lutheran 205 7-9-1, 7-5-1 ASC (9th)
11. Ozarks 174 5-12, 4-9 ASC (10th)
12. Concordia Texas 134 5-13, 3-10 ASC (11th)
13. East Texas Baptist 121 2-12, 2-10 ASC (12th)
14. McMurry (1) 86 1-17, 1-12 ASC (13th)
15. Louisiana College 37 0-17, 0-12 ASC (14th)

2011 ASC PRESEASON MEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors]
Offensive Dillon Holt, F, Sr., LeTourneau
Defensive Jake Urbaniak, D, Sr., Texas-Tyler