RSU Men’s Soccer Tabbed Third In GAC Preseason Coaches Poll

The Rogers State University Men’s Soccer team was picked third in the Great American Conference Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll, announced the league office on Thursday.

The Hillcats took 32 points in the vote to secure the third spot in the eight-team league. Rogers State joins the GAC after posting an 8-8-2 record in the Heartland Conference last season.

RSU joins the league in 2019, along with fellow newcomers, Fort Hays State, Northeastern State and Newman, who are a part of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association for their other sports.

Rogers State brings back a pair of All-Region honorees in Noah Robson and Chris Sowder. Sowder led the team with nine goals and 21 points. Robson tallied a team-leading nine assists and notched three goals.

No. 3 Fort Hays is picked to win the Great American Conference after receiving 40 points, including five first-place votes. No. 22 Northeastern State was picked second, just behind Fort Hays State with 39 points and three first-place votes.

Newman edged out Ouachita Baptist, the defending GAC Champions, and Harding for fourth position. The Jets received 22 points in the preseason poll to take the fourth spot, while Ouachita Baptist and Harding took fifth and sixth with 21 and 20 points, respectively.

Southern Nazarene was picked seventh with 14 points, while Oklahoma Baptist rounds out the field with eight points.

The new eight-team league will feature a full double round-robin schedule and will conclude with the top four teams qualifying for the conference’s postseason tournament. The regular-season champion will host the GAC Championships.

The 2019 season begins of Friday, September 6 for the Hillcats, who will take on William Jewell in Missouri. Rogers State will open GAC play on September 19 at Newman.

The GAC Semifinals and Championship will take place on November 15 and 17.

2019 Great American Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll