Concordia Predicted to Win CCC Men’s Soccer Title
LA GRANDE, Ore. – Finding themselves atop all eight ballots, the Concordia Cavaliers are the unanimous choice to win the 2013 Cascade Conference men’s soccer title, as predicted in the coaches’ preseason poll.
Evergreen was selected second in the early prognostication. Northwest edged out Warner Pacific by one point for third while Corban, College of Idaho, Northwest Christian and Oregon Tech rounded out the poll.
Concordia returns nine starters from their 2012 CCC championship team that went 16-4-2 last year. Second-Team NAIA All-American and CCC Player of the Year Septi Danciu returns to lead the Navy offense after scoring 19 goals and assisting on six more as a junior last season.
Cavalier head coach Dan Birkey enters the year with 335 wins in his 26th season at Concordia. His is currently ranked 12th all-time among NAIA coaches, including sixth among active managers.
Evergreen, who played their way to the CCC title game last season, will be led by 2012 CCC Defensive Player of the Year Brady Espinoza and CCC Newcomer of the Year Willie Spurr.
The CCC tournament will feature the top four teams in the regular season standings. The semifinals will be held on campus sites on Nov. 12 with the winners playing on Nov. 16 at the site of the highest remaining seed. The CCC’s tournament champion will earn the conference’s automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships, which begin Nov. 23.
CCC Coaches' Poll
Team |
Points
|
|
Concordia (8)
|
56
|
|
Evergreen
|
43
|
|
Northwest
|
39
|
|
Warner Pacific
|
38
|
|
Corban
|
28
|
|
College of Idaho
|
20
|
|
Northwest Christian
|
16
|
|
Oregon Tech
|
12
|
first place votes in parentheses