Eastern Michigan Athletics
Soccer Tabbed Ninth in MAC Preseason Coaches Poll
8/15/2023 12:01:00 PM | Soccer
Eagles looking to garner a finish in the top six to earn a berth in the MAC Tournament
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University soccer program has been tabbed to finish ninth in the conference standings this year according to the votes tabulated in the 2023 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Preseason Coaches Poll, the league announced today, Aug. 15. The Eagles, who tied for ninth place after being voted 10th last year, will face the top three teams in the 2023 preseason poll at home, including defending champion the University at Buffalo, Oct. 1.
Quick Notes
• Eastern was selected one position higher than the 2022 campaign in which it was selected 10th before tying with the University of Akron for ninth in the final regular season standings.
• The top three teams and four of the top five in the 2023 preseason poll are all scheduled to play at Eastern this season, including No. 1 Buffalo (Oct. 1), No. 2 Western Michigan University (Oct. 15), and No. 3 Ball State University (Sept. 24).
• According the voting, the Eagles will play host to the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 5, No. 8, and No. 12-ranked teams throughout the conference season, which begins Sept. 21 with a visit to No. 10 Central Michigan University.
• Once again, the top six teams in the final regular season standings will earn berths into the 2023 MAC Tournament, which begins with the quarterfinals Sunday, Oct. 29, at sites to be determined.
According to the poll, which was constructed by the votes of the conference's 12 head coaches, the Eagles received 35 points, placing them seven points behind Northern Illinois University, who is eighth with 42 points, and four points ahead of rival Central Michigan, who sits 10th with 31 points. Defending champion Buffalo garnered 112 points and seven first-place votes to edge out Western Michigan, who was slotted second with 104 points and three first-place votes. Ball State rounds out the top three with 100 points and one first-place vote.
To reach the tournament, teams need to finish the regular season in the top six of the standings, which is rounded out by Bowling Green State University (98 points) in fourth, Miami University (86) in fifth, and Kent State University (67) in sixth. The remaining teams in the poll included Ohio University (65) in seventh; the University of Toledo (27) in 11th; and Akron (26) in 12th.
Additionally, the coaches placed votes for which team they believed would win the MAC Tournament with the Bulls earning six votes to lead the way while the Cardinals were the only other team with multiple votes with two. BGSU, Miami, Ohio, and WMU each earned one vote.
The Eagles are set to begin their season Thursday as they are set to play host to the Bonnies of St. Bonaventure University. The game is slated for a 4 p.m. kick at Scicluna Field.
Silver Season
The 2023 season will mark the 25th Scott Hall has served as the head coach of the Eastern program. A former student-athlete at EMU (1990-94) and a four-year assistant coach (1995-98), Hall has been part of all 546 matches the Eagles have played in its existence, including 472 as the head coach. Sporting a record of 209-203-61 as head coach, Hall, the longest tenured coach in MAC women's soccer history, has guided the Eagles to 15 MAC Tournament appearances with one tournament title secured in three championship match appearances. Winners of three MAC regular season crowns (1999, 2003, and 2013), the three-time MAC Coach of the Year also helped the Eagles reach the 1999 NCAA Tournament, the first national tournament appearance in program history.
Follow Us
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, continue to visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMUSoccer) and Instagram (@EMUSoccer).
2023 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Buffalo (7) - 112 points
2. Western Michigan (3) - 104 points
3. Ball State (1) - 100 points
4. Bowling Green - 98 points
5. Miami (1) - 86 points
6. Kent State - 67 points
7. Ohio - 65 points
8. Northern Illinois - 42 points
9. Eastern Michigan - 35 points
10. Central Michigan - 31 points
11. Toledo - 27 points
12. Akron - 26 points
(#) - first-place votes received
Tournament Champions (# of votes)
Buffalo (6), Ball State (2), Bowling Green (1), Miami (1), Ohio (1), Western Michigan (1)
Quick Notes
• Eastern was selected one position higher than the 2022 campaign in which it was selected 10th before tying with the University of Akron for ninth in the final regular season standings.
• The top three teams and four of the top five in the 2023 preseason poll are all scheduled to play at Eastern this season, including No. 1 Buffalo (Oct. 1), No. 2 Western Michigan University (Oct. 15), and No. 3 Ball State University (Sept. 24).
• According the voting, the Eagles will play host to the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 5, No. 8, and No. 12-ranked teams throughout the conference season, which begins Sept. 21 with a visit to No. 10 Central Michigan University.
• Once again, the top six teams in the final regular season standings will earn berths into the 2023 MAC Tournament, which begins with the quarterfinals Sunday, Oct. 29, at sites to be determined.
According to the poll, which was constructed by the votes of the conference's 12 head coaches, the Eagles received 35 points, placing them seven points behind Northern Illinois University, who is eighth with 42 points, and four points ahead of rival Central Michigan, who sits 10th with 31 points. Defending champion Buffalo garnered 112 points and seven first-place votes to edge out Western Michigan, who was slotted second with 104 points and three first-place votes. Ball State rounds out the top three with 100 points and one first-place vote.
To reach the tournament, teams need to finish the regular season in the top six of the standings, which is rounded out by Bowling Green State University (98 points) in fourth, Miami University (86) in fifth, and Kent State University (67) in sixth. The remaining teams in the poll included Ohio University (65) in seventh; the University of Toledo (27) in 11th; and Akron (26) in 12th.
Additionally, the coaches placed votes for which team they believed would win the MAC Tournament with the Bulls earning six votes to lead the way while the Cardinals were the only other team with multiple votes with two. BGSU, Miami, Ohio, and WMU each earned one vote.
The Eagles are set to begin their season Thursday as they are set to play host to the Bonnies of St. Bonaventure University. The game is slated for a 4 p.m. kick at Scicluna Field.
Silver Season
The 2023 season will mark the 25th Scott Hall has served as the head coach of the Eastern program. A former student-athlete at EMU (1990-94) and a four-year assistant coach (1995-98), Hall has been part of all 546 matches the Eagles have played in its existence, including 472 as the head coach. Sporting a record of 209-203-61 as head coach, Hall, the longest tenured coach in MAC women's soccer history, has guided the Eagles to 15 MAC Tournament appearances with one tournament title secured in three championship match appearances. Winners of three MAC regular season crowns (1999, 2003, and 2013), the three-time MAC Coach of the Year also helped the Eagles reach the 1999 NCAA Tournament, the first national tournament appearance in program history.
Follow Us
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, continue to visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMUSoccer) and Instagram (@EMUSoccer).
2023 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Buffalo (7) - 112 points
2. Western Michigan (3) - 104 points
3. Ball State (1) - 100 points
4. Bowling Green - 98 points
5. Miami (1) - 86 points
6. Kent State - 67 points
7. Ohio - 65 points
8. Northern Illinois - 42 points
9. Eastern Michigan - 35 points
10. Central Michigan - 31 points
11. Toledo - 27 points
12. Akron - 26 points
(#) - first-place votes received
Tournament Champions (# of votes)
Buffalo (6), Ball State (2), Bowling Green (1), Miami (1), Ohio (1), Western Michigan (1)
Cinematic Highlights: Eastern Soccer vs. Kent State
Monday, October 28
Cinematic Highlights: Soccer vs. Western Michigan
Monday, October 14
Cinematic Highlights: Eastern Soccer vs. Miami
Monday, October 07
Cinematic Highlights: Eastern Soccer vs. Toledo
Friday, September 27