Goshen, IN — On the heels of back-to-back Mid-Central Conference Championships and the first trip to the NAIA National Championships since 1977, the Goshen College men’s soccer team has been ranked 16th in the NAIA’s 2007 Pre-season Top 25 Poll.
The rating is the highest pre-season honor in the 47-year history of the Goshen program, while the Leafs will start the ’07 season a bit later than expected: Following a last-minute administrative decision at Valparaiso University, Goshen’s Monday night exhibition match with the Crusaders was cancelled. Goshen will now open its season — officially — in hosting Trevecca Nazarene University Thursday night at 7 p.m.
“Valparaiso officials contacted us Monday morning and alerted us to a violation of team policy within their men’s soccer program,” said Ken Pletcher, Goshen athletic director. “That, in turn, caused the match to be cancelled.”
That information came as a downer to Leafs’ head coach Tavi Mounsithiraj and crew, as a record-breaking crowd was predicted for Monday night’s showdown with an NCAA Division I opponent. Now, Thursday night’s match is thrust into the spotlight, as Goshen puts a 29-6-7 record over the last two seasons — and the nation’s number 16 ranking — on the line for the first time.
“I’m excited for our program and excited for our guys,” Mounsithiraj said of the pre-season slot. “Our players have worked very hard over the last several years, and have deserved this recognition. If we’re still ranked 16th (in the nation) three months from now, I’ll be happy.”
Graceland University (Iowa), last year’s national champion, secured the pre-season number one ranking, while Park University — the team to knock Goshen out of the NAIA National Championships in a heartbreaking, penalty kick decision (click here for related article) — is ranked 15th in the poll. Goshen enters the ’07 season as the only MCC squad ranked in the top 25, while no team on the Leafs’ schedule cracked the list, either.
“This ranking is based on our successful season last year, and that is it really,” Mounsithiraj said. “We have to go out and get it done on the pitch again this year. Everyone will be gunning for us. That’s what a national ranking does. Hopefully we will be able to respond to that challenge."
The NAIA Men's Soccer 2007 Pre-Season Top 25 Poll can be viewed by clicking here.
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Tavi Mounsithiraj