ST. LOUIS, Mo. (August 17, 2017) – The Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team has been chosen as the preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference's preseason coaches poll, the league office announced on Thursday morning.
 
The Valley also released its Preseason All-Conference Team, where three Ramblers were recognized.  Senior Elliot Collier (Hamilton, New Zealand/Saint Paul's Collegiate) collected preseason honors for a third-straight year, while redshirt junior Grant Stoneman (St. Charles, Ill./Wheaton Academy/Wisconsin) and junior Alec Lasinski (Ann Arbor, Mich./Skyline) both made their first appearances on the list.
 
Loyola, under the direction of fifth-year head coach Neil Jones, claimed five out of a possible seven first-place votes to top the poll with 47 points.  Evansville (38) and Missouri State (34) each received one first-place vote to come in second and third, respectively.  Central Arkansas (30), Drake (18), league newcomer Valparaiso (15) and Bradley (14) rounded out the poll.
 
Collier was a force in the final third for the Maroon & Gold last season.  The Hamilton, New Zealand native started in 11 of his 15 appearances and racked up five goals, a mark which ranked second on the Rambler roster, and two assists en route to earning First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference accolades.  Collier, who also was a First Team All-West Region selection by the NSCAA, posted two-goal performances in wins over Binghamton and Central Arkansas.
 
Stoneman enjoyed a breakout debut season in Rogers Park as he started in all 19 games.  Out of St. Charles, Ill., Stoneman became Loyola's second All-American in program history as he earned Second Team honors from the NSCAA to go along with First Team All-MVC and First Team All-West Region selections.  He netted three goals, all of which were game-winners, and helped anchor a Loyola backline that owned a Valley-best 0.57 goals against average.
 
Lasinski, like Stoneman, earned the starting nod in all 19 games and turned in a breakout season of his own as a sophomore.  The Ann Arbor, Mich. product fired home a team-high seven goals, netting three game-winners of his own, and dished out four assists as he received Second Team All-MVC accolades.  Lasinski helped the Ramblers pick up their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory as he delivered the deciding strike in a 2-0 triumph over city-rival UIC.
 
Loyola, looking to complete an unbeaten preseason slate, wraps up exhibition play when it hosts Marquette on Saturday at 7 p.m.  The Ramblers officially open their 2017 schedule next Friday, Aug. 25, when they travel to Cincinnati, Ohio to take on Xavier at 6:30 p.m. (CT).

2017 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Loyola (5) -- 47
2. Evansville (1) -- 38
3. Missouri State (1) -- 34
4. Central Arkansas -- 30
5. Drake -- 18
6. Valparaiso -- 15
7. Bradley -- 14