Summit League Releases Men's Soccer Preseason Poll

Tuesday, August 22, 2023 | By: WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

WIU's Ragland and Owen Named as Players to Watch

SIOUX FALLS, SD -- The Summit League released its preseason poll for the 2023 Men's Soccer season on Tuesday. The Leathernecks were picked to finish sixth in the six-team poll by the league's coaches.

Denver was picked as the favorite, receiving 24 total votes and four first-place votes. Oral Roberts is slated to finish second by conference coaches, despite winning the Summit League in 2022.

Omaha (17 votes), Kansas City (13 votes), and St. Thomas (8 votes) were voted to finish thirrd, fourth, and fifth in the conference, respectively.

Fifth-year student-athletes Kyle Owen and Caleb Ragland received individual honors, being named Players to Watch for the conference.

Western Illinois finished 2-1 in the exhibition season, with wins over Southeastern CC and Quincy University.

The 2023 Summit League Men's Soccer Championship will take place November 9 & 11 at Case Soccer Complex in Tulsa, Okla. The top four teams at the conclusion of the regular season advance to the championship. The winner of the Summit League Championship receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

2023 Summit League Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank | School | Votes | 2022 Record (SL)

1.    Denver         24 (4)     14-3-5 (6-0-2, 20 pts)

2.    Oral Roberts 22 (2)     11-4-2 (7-1-1, 21 pts

3.    Omaha        17           8-6-2 (5-2-1, 16 pts)

4.    Kansas City 13           7-5-5 (4-1-3, 15 pts)

5.    St. Thomas 8             3-12-2 (2-5-1, 7 pts)

6.    Western Illinois 6 2-8-7 (2-3-3, 9 pts)

Players to Watch

Sam Bassett | Denver | Junior | Midfielder
• Named to the 2022 Summit League All-Second Team and United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Third Team
• Started all 22 matches, leading Pioneers in goals (7), assists (6) and points (20).

Ben Smith | Denver | Senior | Midfielder
• Inaugural recipient of the Summit League Midfielder of the Year award that debuted in 2022
• Named to the 2022 Summit League All-First Team and United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team
• Team captain started 21 games scoring two goals, including game-winner at Omaha

Reed Berry | Oral Roberts | Graduate | Forward
• Four-time All-Summit League First Team honoree and United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Team honoree
• Named to the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Third Team in 2022 after scoring four goals and adding six assists
• Tallied seven career game-winning goals for the Golden Eagles

Schinieder Mimy | Oral Roberts | Senior | Defender
• Named to the Summit League All-Newcomer Team and earned All-Summit League honorable mention honors
• Started 13 of 14 matches he appeared in, tallying a goal and six assists, while helping ORU's defense register six shutouts, including four in league play

Gonzalo Cuevas | Omaha | Senior | Defender
• Named to the All-Summit League First Team and All-Newcomer Team
• Earned a spot on the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Third Team
• Started 15 matches on Omaha's back line, helping the Mavericks post five shutouts

Kyle Reese | Omaha | Senior | Defender
• Earned All-Summit League honorable mention honors after first season with Mavericks
• Started 14 matches on Omaha's back line, helping the Mavericks hold opponents to a 1.44 goals against average

Stefano Camerlengo | Kansas City | Senior | Goalkeeper
• Did not appear in any matches for the Roos in 2022 after earning back-to-back NAIA First Team All-America honors at Central Methodist in 2020 and 2021
• Two-time Heart of America First Team All-Conference honoree
• Combined for 25 shutouts in two years at Central Methodist

Seth Kacich | Kansas City | Graduate | Defender
• Has 39 starts for the Roos to his credit and has appeared in 49 career matches
• Earned both weekly Offensive and Defensive Peak Performer of the Week honors during career
• Three-time Academic All-Summit League honoree

Oliver Bieleveldt | St. Thomas | Sophomore | Forward
• Named to the Summit League All-Newcomer Team
• Started all 16 matches for the Tommies, scoring a goal in two of his first three collegiate matches

Wes Lorrens | St. Thomas | Graduate | Defender
• Played in 16 matches, starting 11 for the Tommies in 2022
• Helped anchor back line in a pair of shutout victories over league foes last season

Kyle Owen | Western Illinois | Graduate | Defender
• Earned All-Summit League honorable mention accolades in 2022 and was an All-League Second Team performer in 2020
• Started 59 consecutive matches for the Leathernecks over the past four seasons

Caleb Ragland | Western Illinois | Graduate | Midfielder
• Made 11 starts and appeared in 13 matches for the Leathernecks in 2022
• Started 40 matches in four seasons at WIU

Note: Players to Watch nominated by league's head coaches

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