(Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

WESTERVILLE — The Marietta College men’s soccer team was picked to finish sixth in the Ohio Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, released Tuesday afternoon by the league office. The Pioneers posted a 6-10-2 record last fall and finished with a 3-5-1 record in the OAC.

Although the field appears to wide open, Ohio Northern is the slight preseason favorite to win the championship in 2025. The Polar Bears earned five first place votes and 58 total points. 2024 OAC regular season champs Mount Union grabbed two first place votes and 56 total points for second place, edging out Otterbein. The Cardinals, last year’s tournament champs, received the last two first place votes and received 55 total points for third place.

Capital (42 points) placed fourth and an improved Wilmington squad was fifth after receiving 39 points. Marietta trailed behind landing in the sixth slot (27 points). The list concluded with Baldwin Wallace (23 points) in seventh and Muskingum and Heidelberg tied for last with 12 points apiece.

“To be honest it’s what I expected, but I firmly believe in this group,” said Marietta College men’s soccer head coach Joe Bergin. “I look forward to seeing this team compete.”

Marietta opens the season on the road with a battle with Chatham Friday, Aug. 29, with a scheduled start time of 7 p.m.

WOMEN

The Marietta College women’s soccer team was picked to finish seventh in the Ohio Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, released Wednesday afternoon by the league office. The Pioneers posted a much improved 7-8-3 record in 2024 and finished with a 3-5-1 record in the OAC.

Defending OAC Tournament Champions Ohio Northern is the overwhelming favorite in this 2025 preseason. The Polar Bears earned seven first place votes and received 63 total points. Capital received the other two first place votes and was narrowly edged out to second place with 56 points. Otterbein placed third with 45 points and Wilmington placed a close fourth with 41 points. Heidelberg rounded out the top five receiving 38 total points.

Baldwin Wallace (28 points) was sixth. Marietta improved their placement from last year by two spots, getting seventh place with 27 points. Mount Union landed eighth (18 points) and Muskingum closed out the list with eight points.

“Everyone loves an underdog,” said Marietta College women’s soccer head coach Zack Votra. “We’ll roll with that narrative and earn everything we get.”

The Pioneers open the 2025 season hosting the Marietta Soccer Classic on Friday, Aug. 29. Marietta will open the event with a battle with Wittenberg at 5 p.m. Bridgewater College and Carnegie Mellon will follow at 7:30 p.m. On the following afternoon, Marietta and Bridgewater will battle at 3:30 p.m. and Carnegie Mellon and Wittenberg will close the weekend with a battle at 6 p.m.