Soccer teams picked to win KCAC by coaches
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

NORTH NEWTON – Kansas Wesleyan University Soccer was picked by the coaches of the Kansas Conference to sweep the men’s and women’s soccer conference championships.

The Coyotes are under the direction of third year coach Mike Dibbini, who has led both the men and the women to conference championships in his first two years.

The men, who finished the 2006 season with a 17-4 overall record, captured the KCAC post-season tournament championship for the second straight season and also advanced to the NAIA Regional playoffs.

Dibbini has led the men to a 30-10-2 record in his two seasons.

The Coyotes edged out Friends for the top spot on the men’s side, tallying 86 points and five first place votes, while the Falcons had 84 points and three first place votes in second place. McPherson was picked third with 67 points and Bethel was fourth with 66 points and received two first place votes.

Wesleyan’s women are coming off one of the program’s best seasons in history, capturing a first-ever KCAC Regular Season Championship and a second straight tournament championship, before advancing to the NAIA Region IV Championship last season, finishing with an 18-3-2 record in 2006.

In Dibbini’s two seasons, the women are 34-6-3 overall, and are ranked No.22 in the NAIA Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll that was released on Monday from the national office. The national ranking is a first-ever for the Lady Coyotes.

Wesleyan easily won the voting with 90 points and nine first place votes, while Sterling was second with 80 points, Friends was third with 72, McPherson was fourth with 69 points and the only other first place vote, and Ottawa was fifth with 49 points.

The Coyotes open the 2007 season on August 28 as they host Concordia (Neb.) at Martin Stadium. The women kickoff at 4:00 p.m., with the men to follow at approximately 6:00. The Coyotes will host Garden City (Kan.) Community College in a tune-up match prior to the season opener on August 24 beginning at 2:00 p.m.

-- KWU SI --