AUM News
The AUM men's soccer team has now been ranked for 100 straight weeks in the NAIA Top-25 polls, dating back to Sept. 12, 2000.
The AUM men's soccer team has now been ranked for 100 straight weeks in the NAIA Top-25 polls, dating back to Sept. 12, 2000.
Men's Soccer - Tue. Aug. 17, 2010

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Auburn University at Montgomery men's soccer team was selected 17th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Top-25 Poll, which was released on Tuesday.

The Senators, who finished the 2009 season 13-4-2 overall and fell to Lee University in the SSAC Tournament Championship match, received 234 total votes and have now been ranked for 100 consecutive weeks in the NAIA Top-25 polls, dating back to Sept. 12, 2000. Following AUM, Lindsey Wilson and Simon Fraser have both been ranked in the last 33 straight polls.
"This is just another sign of the groundwork that Brett Teach did to start this program," head coach Wulf-Dieter Koch said. "We are excited to be selected in the preseason poll, but we have a very tough schedule and will have to fight every match if we want to prove we are deserving of the ranking."
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College, the defending national champion, was the near-unanimous selection to repeat as champions, receiving 19 of 20 first-place votes and 560 total votes. The Master's College (Calif.) was chosen second with a total of 538 votes, while Simon Fraser University (B.C.) was voted third with 518 total votes. Martin Methodist College (Tenn.) was voted sixth and received the only other first-place vote.
AUM was joined in the poll by fellow Southern States Athletic Conference member Southern Polytechnic State University (Ga.), which was voted ninth, as well as William Carey University (Miss.), which was 19th. The University of Mobile was among the others receiving votes.
The Senators kick off their 2010 season on Thursday, August 19, by hosting NCAA Division II foe West Florida. The match is slated to begin at 3 p.m. Students and fans are encouraged to wear orange, as well as become a member of the AUMazing fan club to receive a free orange t-shirt.
Koch and the Senators will return nine players from the 2009 squad, including junior third-team All-American Stefan Arnarson and co-captains Nik Chamberlain and Gunnar Kristinsson. The team also welcomes 15 newcomers, including 14 freshmen.
In 2009, Arnarson led AUM with 13 goals, while adding three assists. Kristinsson started 16 matches for the Senators as a midfielder, scoring two goals and assisting on two others. Chamberlain returns after missing last season with a knee injury.
Perhaps the biggest question mark for the Senators in 2010 will be in goal. Junior Steve Keller is the front runner to assume the staring keeper duties, but will be challenged by sophomore Benjamin Koch and freshman Pedro Uchoa. Keller has started 11 matches for AUM during his career, and he posted a 3-0 record in three starts last season.
West Florida finished 2009 with an 11-6-2 overall record and was selected as the preseason Gulf South Conference favorite for the ninth consecutive season earlier this month.
Ticket prices for all home AUM soccer matches are $4 for adults and $2 for students.
COMPLETE POLL
Name (First-Place Votes) - Total Votes
1. Lindsey Wilson (19) - 560
2. The Master's College - 538
3. Simon Fraser University - 518
4. University of Rio Grande - 514
5. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - 46
6. Martin Methodist University (1) - 439
7. Notre Dame College - 438
8. Biola University - 436
9. Southern Polytechnic State University - 416
10. Benedictine College - 380
11. University of Maine at Fort Kent - 349
12. Bethel University - 344
13. Azusa Pacific University - 339
14. Columbia College - 329
15. Hastings College - 325
16. University of Texas at Brownsville - 253
17. Auburn University at Montgomery - 234
18. Bethel College - 231
19. William Carey University - 208
20. Science and Arts of Oklahoma - 189
T21. McKendree University - 167
T21. Bellevue University - 167
23. Indiana Institute of Technology - 166
24. Baker University - 162
25. Ashford University - 158