Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – The Knox College men’s soccer team claimed the top spot in the 2022 Midwest Conference (MWC) preseason poll, as voted on by the league’s head coaches.
 
The defending champion Prairie Fire accumulated 53 points and five first-place votes at the number one position.
 
Cornell College earned two first-place votes and 48 points for second place in the poll, while Lake Forest College picked up 41 points and one first-place vote for third place.
 
Grinnell College placed fourth with 40 points, followed by Lawrence University with 33 points to round out the top five.
 
In sixth place, Illinois College tallied 28 points, ahead of Ripon College (18), Beloit College (15), and Monmouth College (12).
 
Eight of the nine league teams will be in action on Thursday, September 1, against non-conference opponents. Conference play begins with eight MWC teams on Saturday, September 24.
 
The MWC Men’s Soccer Tournament is scheduled for November 4-5, 2022. The number one seed at the conclusion of the season will host, and the winner will move on to the NCAA Tournament field.
 
Full preseason coaches’ poll results and quick facts for all nine league teams can be found below: 
 
2022 MWC Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results 
1. Knox College (5) – 53 points
2. Cornell College (2) – 48 points
3. Lake Forest College (1) – 41 points
4. Grinnell College – 40 points
5. Lawrence University – 33 points
6. Illinois College – 28 points
7. Ripon College – 18 points
8. Beloit College – 15 points
9. Monmouth College – 12 points
 
() – indicates first-place votes 
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams. 
 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Christian Bitangalo (1^st Season)
2021: 4-10-1 (overall), 2-6 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A

Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Nate Grosse (9^th Season)
2021: 15-4 (overall), 7-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: George Archer (So - MWC Newcomer of the Year), Zach Miller (Sr)
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Brian Jaworski (19^th Season)
2021: 11-8 (overall), 6-2 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Noah Guyton (Sr)

Illinois College Blue Boys
Head Coach: Evan Philpott (4^th Season)
2021: 10-7-1 (overall), 3-5 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Thomas Menke (So), Tyler Schiltz (Jr)
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Kevwe Akpore (1^st Season)
2021: 12-7 (overall), 7-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Martin Garcia (Fifth Year), Nicolas Lantzendorffer (Jr), Lucas Piqueras (Fifth Year), Alex White (Jr)
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Dan Andrews (8^th Season)
2021: 4-13-1 (overall), 4-4 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Elliot Hull (Jr), Szymon Mocarski (Jr)
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Will Greer (6^th Season)
2021: 8-11 (overall), 5-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Kostas Fardellas (So), Sean McLaughlin (Sr), Rodrigo Molina (So)
 
Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Ian Hatleli (2^nd Season)
2021: 1-12-2 (overall), 1-7 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Nico Esparon (Fifth Year)
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Marco Rhein (4^th Season)
2021: 4-13-1 (overall), 1-7 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Eli Dietzel (Jr)