RELEASED:  Tuesday, August 25, 2009

UW-Oshkosh Picked To Win Inaugural Men’s Soccer Title

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, UW-Platteville, UW-Superior, UW-Whitewater and affiliate member Finlandia University (Mich.) have joined forces and will compete in the inaugural season of men’s soccer in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).

The Titans are picked to win the initial title based on a preseason poll conducted by the league’s sports information directors.  The five schools will not be eligible for an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament, but instead will need to earn a postseason spot as a Pool B entrant.

UW-Oshkosh secured three first-place ballots in the WIAC survey.  The Titans have reeled off 24 consecutive winning seasons and made 11 appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament.  UW-Oshkosh owns an all-time record of 331-95-36, including a 45-10-3 mark against the Pioneers, Yellowjackets and Warhawks.  Head coach Toby Bares has been the only head coach in the 25-year history of UW-Oshkosh’s men’s soccer program.  His all-time winning percentage of .755 (331-95-36) is the eighth highest in NCAA Division III history.

UW-Platteville picked up a first-place vote and is slotted for second in the five-team derby.  Allison Sanyi will serve as the acting head coach in place of Enzo Fuschino, who is recovering from a heart attack suffered August 1.  The Pioneers made their first-ever NCAA Division III Tournament appearance a year ago and advanced to the second round.  In 2008, UW-Platteville recorded 11 shutouts and a 0.55 goals-against-average - both school records.  Began in 1964, UW-Platteville’s program is the oldest intercollegiate soccer program in Wisconsin.

UW-Whitewater secured the remaining first-place nod and is expected to finish third in the league race.  The Warhawks own an all-time record of 33-26-5 against the four conference teams and have not had a losing season since 1990.  Head coach Greg Henschel has directed to squad to double-digits in wins in nine of his 10 years.

UW-Superior’s 2009 roster features just three seniors.  All nine of the Yellowjackets’ loses from a year ago were by one goal, including two in overtime.   Last season’s win total represented a three-match increase from 2007 after a seven-match drop from 2006.

Sean Yahn begins his first season in charge of the Lions and is just the second coach in the history of the program.  Finlandia University boasts the only NCAA Division III soccer program in Michigan’s upper peninsula.

2009 Preseason Predictions--Voted on by WIAC Sports Information Directors
                                  2008 Record      
1. UW-Oshkosh (3)      11-5-2
2. UW-Platteville (1)     14-5-1
3. UW-Whitewater (1)   9-5-3
4. UW-Superior            9-9
5. Finlandia University  0-14
 ( )--First-place votes

Team Vitals

UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach:  Toby Bares; 26th season at UWO; 331-95-36
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  22/6 
Starters Returning/Lost:  9/2

UW-Platteville
Head Coach:  Enzo Fuschino; 3rd season at UWP; 26-11-2 (Allison Sanyi will serve as acting head coach)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  20/8
Starters Returning/Lost:  8/3

UW-Superior
Head Coach:  Joe Mooney, 2nd season at UWS; 9-9
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  15/10 
Starters Returning/Lost:  8/3

UW-Whitewater
Head Coach:  Greg Henschel; 11th season at UWW; 126-52-13
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  24/1
Starters Returning/Lost:  11/0

Finlandia University
Head Coach:  Sean Yahn; 1st season at FU
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  8/5
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/6