Top Five Moments of 2011 Season: #3 -- Ranked in NSCAA Top 25
To get fans ready for the 2012 Olivet College men's soccer season, we are going to take a look back at the 2011 season over the next month. We are doing so by doing a countdown of the Top Five moments of the season. We will reveal a new moment over the next three weeks during the month of August.
Editor's note: To get fans ready for the 2012 Olivet College men's soccer season, we are going to take a look back at the 2011 season over the next month. We are doing so by doing a countdown of the Top Five moments of the season. We will reveal a new moment over the next three weeks during the month of August.
#3 – Ranked in NSCAA top 25 for first time in school history
Olivet College has sponsored men's soccer since 1974. Last fall, the Olivet Men's Soccer team was ranked in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Top 25 poll for the first time ever in school history when it came in at No. 23 on Oct. 4.
"To be ranked in the national top 25 is HUGE step for our program," said Olivet Head Coach Chad Wiseman. "It is a great feeling to know we are making some noise around the Midwest region, as well as the country, and people all over are taking notice of the things we are doing and the success we are having."
The #23 national ranking was after the Comets stormed out of the gates to a 9-1-1 record to start the season. During that stretch, the men recorded 10 shutouts in the first 11 games of the year. Olivet raced out to a 5-0 start against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opponents, including shutout wins against Kalamazoo, Alma, Albion and Trine, and also downed Hope in a 2-1 come-from-behind overtime thriller!
Senior captain Cole Dehen and sophomore Zach Piotrowski anchored the back line which gave an enormous helping hand during the run, and throughout the season for that matter. Freshman keepers Alex Lang and Matt Van Houten shared time contributing to the 10 shutouts as well.
#5 – Back-to-back wins at Calvin
#3 – Ranked in NSCAA top 25 for first time in school history