FREELAND, MICH. -- The Trine University men's soccer team was picked to finish fifth in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Preseason Coaches Poll that was released today.
The Thunder finished with 24 points to tie for fifth place along with Adrian (Mich.) College. Calvin (Mich.) University was picked as the favorite with 49 points and seven-of-eight first-place votes. Hope (Mich.) College was second with 43 points and one first-place votes and Kalamazoo (Mich.) College rounded out the top three with 36 points.
Trine played four games in the fall and finished with a 4-1 mark. Junior Kaliel Alisaid (Coldwater, Mich./Coldwater) led the Thunder in scoring with six goals and an assist for 13 total points. He also led the team in shots with 15 for a .400 shot percentage. Freshman Hamzah Saleh (Detroit, Mich./Frontier International Academy) was second in scoring with seven points having scored three goals and an assist. Junior Connor Malmquist (Valparaiso, Ind./Morgan Township) was third in scoring with three goals for six points.
In net, freshman Troy Saylor (Caledonia, Mich./Caledonia) started all five games and played all 450 minutes finishing with a 4-1 record (two shutout victories) with a 1.40 goals against average. He made 15 saves and had a .682 save percentage.
Trine is scheduled to resume the season on Friday, Mar. 19 when the Thunder host Alma (Mich.) College at 7 p.m. at Zollner Stadium.
MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank | School (First-Place Votes) | Pts. |
1. | Calvin (7) | 49 |
2. | Hope (1) | 43 |
3. | Kalamazoo | 36 |
4. | Albion | 26 |
t-5. | Adrian | 24 |
t-5. | Trine | 24 |
7. | Alma | 15 |
8. | Olivet | 7 |