Purdue University Northwest has been selected fourth in the 2021 GLIAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced by league headquarters on Wednesday. PNW tied its highest preseason GLIAC ranking ever after it received 28 points in the tally.
Saginaw Valley State (47), Parkside (44), Davenport (36), Purdue Northwest (28) and Northern Michigan (27) comprised the top five teams. Northwood (17) and St. Cloud State (17) tied for sixth while Upper Iowa (8) rounded out the preseason poll.
Under head coach Ryan Hayes, who enters his seventh season leading the Pride, PNW went 4-4-0 overall during the abbreviated 2021 spring campaign. The Pride tied for third in the final regular season conference standings with wins over Ashland, Davenport, Northwood and Upper Iowa. PNW moved on to host a conference tournament quarterfinal as the fourth seed - after it was picked seventh in the 2021 spring preseason poll. It was PNW's third postseason appearance in four years as a GLIAC member.
PNW returns two of its program-record four All-GLIAC selections from the spring.
Senior midfielder Isaiah Nieves (Lyons Township, Ill.), who has twice earned All-GLIAC Second Team honors, returns after leading the Pride with 12 points last spring - tied for fourth most in the conference. In eight games, Nieves recorded a team-high four goals and four assists with 21 shots on goal. Nieves enters the 2021 fall season with 12 goals and 10 assists in his career.
Sophomore defender Martin Murillo (Addison, Ill.) also returns after earning All-GLIAC First Team recognition. Murillo helped organize the back line for a PNW defense that finished second in the conference in fewest goals allowed (12). He played nearly 700 minutes while appearing in all eight matches. Murillo was also voted the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week following his effort in PNW's road win against Davenport.
PNW will start the season with four of its first five games played at Dowling Park. The season opener is Thursday, Sept. 2 against Lewis University.
Season tickets are available for the nine-game home slate and can be purchased at PNWathletics.com.
