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WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- The Marietta College men’s soccer team was picked to finish seventh in the Ohio Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, released Wednesday (August 19) morning by the league office. The Pioneers posted a 5-12-2 record last fall and finished with a 2-6 record in the OAC.
Ohio Northern is the slight preseason favorite to lead the OAC in 2026. The Polar Bears earned five first place votes and 59 total points. 2025 OAC champs Otterbein grabbed three first place votes and 56 total points for second place, edging out Mount Union. The Purple Raiders received the final first place vote and received 55 total points for third place.
Wilmington continues to rise in the polls and placed fourth with 41 points. Capital (35 points) placed fifth and Baldwin Wallace claimed sixth after receiving 29 points. Marietta trailed behind landing in the seventh slot (24 points). The list concluded with Heidelberg (13 points) in eighth and Muskingum last with 12 points.
“Based on last year’s results, it is where we expected to be,” said Marietta College men’s soccer head coach Joe Bergin. “We have to work to prove it wrong.”
Marietta opens the season at home Tuesday, September 1with a men’s and women’s soccer doubleheader. The men will battle with Geneva College, with a scheduled start time of 4:30 p.m. The women will follow at 7pm to face Washington and Jefferson College.
The complete poll is below. First place votes are in parenthesis.
OAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll:
1. Ohio Northern -- 59 (5)
2. Otterbein -- 56 (3)
3. Mount Union -- 55 (1)
4. Wilmington -- 41
5. Capital -- 35
6. Baldwin Wallace -- 29
7. Marietta -- 24
8. Heidelberg -- 13
9. Muskingum -- 12