ADRIAN, Mich. – On Wednesday, August 8th, The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) announced the 2022 WHAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' poll. The Siena Heights Men's Soccer team was selected to finish ninth overall with 50 points. The Saints ended the 2021 season in the same spot as the preseason poll after a 2-6-2 showing in conference play last year.
The SHU men's soccer team returns multiple starters from the 2021 season, including Sophomore Nolan Chaput. The Canton, Michigan native held two goals for the Saints and one assist last season, totaling seven points, and will return wearing the #13 jersey. In addition, Marcelo Rocha, a Junior from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, who tallied two goals and four points last season, returns to the Siena's starting lineup.
Senior Timm Castro returns for his final year after boasting one goal and one assist last year alongside Junior Wilhem Weissheimer, who also put up one goal and one assist. Rounding out the returners list is Senior goalkeeper Jacob Wojciechowski who recorded 960:24 in goal for the Saints with a .663 save percentage. Wojciechowski was also a member of the Championships of Character Team and the WHAC All-Academic team during the 2021 season.
"We have a challenge ahead of us to climb in the standings to get to where we want to go," said SHU men's soccer head coach Drew Crawford. "We have the talent to get there, but in our tough WHAC Conference, every point will be hard-earned. We look forward to the challenge that lies ahead."
The preseason poll is voted on by the coaches in the league who rank each team in the WHAC from 1-11. Eleven points are given to the team at the top of the list, 10 points to the second-ranked team, and so on to determine the order of the poll.
Indiana Tech claimed first after receiving all 12 first-place points to total 144 points. UNOH, who held 132 points, fell to second, while Lawrence Tech totaled 117 points for third. Aquinas followed with 108 points. Madonna trailed closely behind in fifth place with 104 points as Lourdes was ranked sixth with 79 points. UM-Dearborn held 74 points as Cornerstone was selected for the eighth position, totaling 61 points. The Siena Heights University Saints placed ninth overall with 50 points. Above Rochester (39 points), Concordia (23 points), and Cleary (13 points) round out the preseason poll.
Click here for the WHAC release of the 2022 Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll.
