KANSAS CITY, KS – Coming off a trip to the NCAA Division II Final Four last season, the Mercyhurst University men’s soccer team has been ranked fourth in the country according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Continental Tire NCAA Division II preseason rankings which were released recently.
Head coach Dale White was named the PSAC Coach of the Year and was the NSCAA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year last season after leading the Lakers to a 17-6-1 overall record, the team’s first-ever PSAC Championship, and a trip to the Final Four for the first time in ten seasons for the Mercyhurst program.
White enters his fourth season at the helm of the men’s soccer team. He sports an overall record of 40-17-4 and has led the Lakers to the NCAA tournament in each of his first three seasons.
Lynn University, who defeated the Lakers in the national semifinals and then went on to defeat Saginaw Valley State for the National Championship, earned the top spot in the preseason rankings. Saginaw Valley, last year’s national runners-up, is ranked second in the preseason poll, while the other national semifinalist from last season, Simon Fraser, is ranked third.
Mercyhurst loses six players due to graduation from last year’s Final Four team. Included among those is last season’s leading scorer Alex Manea, who notched 16 goals and seven assists. Also departed is Austin Solomon, who was named to the All-PSAC Second Team after scoring eight goals last season, and goalkeeper Diego Gustin, who made 59 saves and posted a 0.83 goals against average.
But, the Lakers have plenty of firepower returning, including junior Fernando Martinez who finished out last season with seven goals and nine assists – second on the team in points. Junior defender Ryan Lund finished fourth on the team in scoring. He was named to the Daktronics Atlantic Region First Team and to the All-PSAC First Team after scoring four goals and adding an assist. Sophomore Sten Marcson and junior Sam Dorf both finished the season with eight points. Marcson, a defensemen alongside Lund, scored three goals in his rookie season and added two assists. Dorf scored two goals, both of which were game-winners, and added four helpers.
Also back is fifth-year senior goalkeeper Mikko Sarkkinen, who led the Lakers during their NCAA tournament run after Gustin suffered a season-ending injury. Sarkkinen went 4-1 with a 1.40 goals against average during the season.
The Lakers will open the 2013 campaign on Friday, September 6 with a home match against Notre Dame College, who is ranked 25th in the NSCAA Continental Tire Division II preseason poll. Kickoff from the Mercyhurst Soccer Field is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
