INDIANAPOLIS—Lake Erie College was voted as the men’s soccer preseason favorite in the Great Midwest Preseason Coaches Poll. The Storm garnered 9 of 12 first-place votes in a poll of the league’s head men’s soccer coaches.
 
Lake Erie went 12-8-5 last season and made a historic run to the final four of the NCAA Division II Championship before falling to Franklin Pierce, who would eventually be crowned the National Champions. They led the league with 57 goals on the year, while allowing just 29. The Storm return two First-Team All-Conference selections in Tom Akinola and Fabian Kiessetz.
 
Tiffin, Ashland, and newcomer Thomas More each also received one first-place vote apiece.
 
Tiffin hosted the 2022 championship after winning the regular season with a conference record of 9-2-3. John Oshakpemhe returns after proving a dominant defender last season. He led a Tiffin defense that averaged just one goal-allowed per contest, earning him Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Ashland also received one first-place vote in the coaches poll after winning the G-MAC tournament last fall. Under 2022 Coach of the Year Nick Roberts, the Eagles return Goalkeeper of the Year Ty Bowden as well as Freshman of the Year Francesco Chiappo. Bowden went 12-7-1 in the net last season with a 1.45 goals-against average and 78 saves. In his college debut, Chiappo started all 20 games and earned second-team all-conference honors.
 
Cedarville and Findlay round-out the top five of the poll. Walsh was voted sixth followed by Northwood in seventh.
 
Newest member Thomas More was predicted eighth, but received one first-place vote after recording a 10-6-2 record last season.
 
The 2023 season is set to begin August 31, with 10 matches.
 

2023 Men's Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll
1. Lake Erie (9)	119
2. Tiffin (1)	111
3. Ashland (1)	101
4.Cedarville	97
5. Findlay	73
6. Walsh	70
7. Northwood	68
8. Thomas More (1)	56
9. Ohio Dominican	54
10. Kentucky Wesleyan	45
11. Trevecca Nazarene	42
12. Malone	22