Ludvig Rhodin Graduate Assistant Coach | Western Illinois University Leathernecks Website
Ludvig Rhodin Graduate Assistant Coach | Western Illinois University Leathernecks Website
BRENTWOOD, TN - In just one week, Western Illinois men's soccer kicks off its first season in the Ohio Valley Conference. The OVC revealed its preseason poll and list of Players to Watch on Thursday, as the Leathernecks were voted to finish seventh and Jimmy Baars was named an OVC Player to Watch.
Senior midfielder Jimmy Baars is in his second year with the Leathernecks. A native of Kudelstaart, Netherlands, Baars started in seven of his 14 appearances, totaling 590 minutes on the year. He finished his 2023 campaign with nine shot attempts and four on goal.
Moving on to the preseason poll, 2023 regular and postseason champs SIUE lead the way in first place, receiving 11 out of 16 first-place votes. The Cougars finished an undefeated 9-0-1 in conference play last season and took down Incarnate Word in the league's championship.
OVC Men's Soccer affiliate members Liberty and Incarnate Word follow up SIUE in the two and three spots. Liberty finished third in 2023, going 4-4-2 in conference play, while UIW finished second at 4-3-3. Lindenwood is just one point behind Incarnate Word in fourth, as they finished last year 3-3-4.
Houston Christian, who received a pair of first-place votes, is slated fifth after a 2-4-4 campaign in 2023. In-state rival Eastern Illinois, who Western defeated in the final minute last year, is in sixth with 36 votes.
The Leathernecks were voted to finish seventh with 25 votes, and Southern Indiana rounded out the group in eighth. View the full poll and Players to Watch list below, which was voted on by conference coaches and communicators.
Western Illinois will start its season on the road with an August 22 match in Phoenix against Grand Canyon.
2024 OVC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
SIUE (11 first-place votes) 95 points
Liberty (3) 79
UIW 67
Lindenwood 66
HCU (2) 59
Eastern Illinois 36
Western Illinois 25
Southern Indiana 21
Players to Watch:
EIU: Sam Eccles (F), Grad.
HCU: D'Alessandro Herrera (MF), Jr.
UIW: Miles Merritt (MF), So.
LIB: Luke Eberle (MF), Sr.
LIN: John Gates (F), Sr.
SIUE: Nacho Abeal (F/MF), Sr.
USI: Jaron Frye (F), Jr.
WIU: Jimmy Baars (MF), Sr.
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