FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Complete CCIW Preseason Poll

Aug. 3, 2010-- The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin released its annual men's soccer preseason coaches' poll on Tuesday with North Central College predicted to finish sixth.

Defending conference champion Elmhurst College sits atop the rankings, with 48 points, garnering six first-place votes. Wheaton College was picked to finish second with 43 points and one first place vote while Carthage College was picked third with 33 points. North Park University garnered 32 points and the final first place nod, good for fourth followed by Illinois Wesleyan University (25 points). North Central and Augustana College each received 16 points to finish in a tie for sixth while Millikin University rounds out the poll in eighth with 11 votes.

Voting in the preseason poll is done by the CCIW's head men's soccer coaches. Each coach votes for the seven other schools in the conference in order of predicted finish. Points are assigned in reverse order of voting (seven points for first, six for second, etc.). Coaches may not vote for their own team.

The Cardinals return nine starters from a 2009 squad that finished with an 8-10 record and a 2-5 mark within the CCIW. North Central opens up the 2010 campaign on Sep. 1, hosting non-conference foe Lake Forest College at 5 p.m. inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. The Cardinals open up the conference slate on Oct. 3, playing host to Millikin University.