Columns in order:
Adjusted RPI's 2015-17 (conference rating at top),
2018 non-conf. average RPI's and SOS's based on 2017,
2018 pre-season poll rankings
The Western Athletic Conference always seems to have one or two teams contending for an at-large berth. Utah Valley made the NCAA Tournament as an at-large in 2015, but was snubbed in 2016. Air Force, the 2017 regular-season champs, made the NCAA's despite losing in the WAC tourney. Cal Baptist begins its transition to Division I this season -- the Lancers will not be eligible for the WAC tourney or the NCAA tourney until 2022.
Defending conference tournament champion Seattle is a perennial contender, but the Redhawks haven't won the regular season since their banner 2015 year. The WAC coaches are predicting a return to form, voting senior midfielder Sergio Rivas and senior defender Nathan Aune as the pre-season Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. Seattle will host Akron this season, and travel to New Mexico, San Diego and across town to Washington.
Over the last 5 years, Seattle and UNLV have taken turns winning the conference auto bid. Unfortunately, the Rebels have constructed such a poor non-conference schedule that the WAC tournament may be their only hope of making the NCAA Tournament. Air Force will be led by forwards Tucker Bone and Austin Dewing as the Falcons look to repeat as regular-season titlists.
The Western Athletic Conference always seems to have one or two teams contending for an at-large berth. Utah Valley made the NCAA Tournament as an at-large in 2015, but was snubbed in 2016. Air Force, the 2017 regular-season champs, made the NCAA's despite losing in the WAC tourney. Cal Baptist begins its transition to Division I this season -- the Lancers will not be eligible for the WAC tourney or the NCAA tourney until 2022.
Defending conference tournament champion Seattle is a perennial contender, but the Redhawks haven't won the regular season since their banner 2015 year. The WAC coaches are predicting a return to form, voting senior midfielder Sergio Rivas and senior defender Nathan Aune as the pre-season Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. Seattle will host Akron this season, and travel to New Mexico, San Diego and across town to Washington.
Over the last 5 years, Seattle and UNLV have taken turns winning the conference auto bid. Unfortunately, the Rebels have constructed such a poor non-conference schedule that the WAC tournament may be their only hope of making the NCAA Tournament. Air Force will be led by forwards Tucker Bone and Austin Dewing as the Falcons look to repeat as regular-season titlists.
More previews to come...follow links to rpiupdate.blogspot.com's daily scoreboards, team schedules, conference standings, NCAA Tournament projection and the most updated, accurately adjusted Division I men's soccer RPI rankings available.
