FREELAND, Mich. -- In a preseason poll of eight Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) men's soccer coaches, Calvin was predicted to finish first after receiving all possible first-place votes.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own programs.

Calvin, the 2019 MIAA Champion, recorded a total of 49 points for the No. 1 spot.  Hope was ranked second after tallying 43 points and the remaining first-place vote, followed by Kalamazoo in third (36 points) and Albion in fourth (26 points).  Adrian and Trine tied-for-5th with 24 points each.  Alma (15 points) and Olivet (7 points) rounded out the poll in seventh and eighth, respectively.

Calvin (23-2-1, 7-0 MIAA in 2019) concluded the 2019 season after playing in the NCAA DIII Tournament semifinals.  The Knights, who claimed the regular-season title prior to earning their sixth-straight MIAA Tournament crown, will look to 2019 First Team All-MIAA players Sam Twigg (Jr., D), Mason Smith (Jr., MF) and Drew Van Andel (Sr., D).  Twigg was selected First Team All-Region and Third Team All-America by the United Soccer Coaches (USC).  Calvin also returns 2019 Second Team All-MIAA sophomores Aguma Muhumuza (D) and Daniel Wunder (GK).

Hope (14-6-1, 6-1 MIAA) completed the 2019 season in second place.  The Flying Dutchmen will lean on 2019 First Team All-MIAA player Ryan Flynn (Jr., MF), along with Second Team All-MIAA selections Ty Dalton (Sr., MF) and Brett Dyer (Jr., D).

Kalamazoo (11-5-2, 4-2-1 MIAA) concluded 2019 with a third-place record.  The Hornets return 2019 First Team All-MIAA honorees Ben Meschke (Sr., F) and Mikey Schwartz (Sr., D).  Alex Wallace (Jr., D) is also back for Kalamazoo after earning Second Team All-MIAA last season.

MIAA competition is scheduled to begin on Friday, March 19, with Alma at Trine and Kalamazoo at Hope.  The teams seeded 1-4 will play for the 2021 MIAA Tournament title, while the teams seeded 5-8 will compete in the consolation bracket.  The semifinals are scheduled for Tuesday, April 20, and the finals are on Thursday, April 22.