Men’s soccer begins 2015 season with high hopes
INDIANOLA, Iowa – Following a disappointing fifth-place finish in the Iowa Conference standings a year ago, the Simpson men's soccer team looks to shake up the league in 2015.
Led by second team all-conference midfielder Marcus Varnum and one of the top offensive players in program history in Tyler Neumann, the Storm are poised to improve upon last season's 12-9 record which included a 3-4 mark in league play. Simpson returns eight starters in all and 12 players who started at least one game in 2014.
One of the top all-around players in the league over the past three seasons, Varnum will see a magnified role with the departure of running mate and leading goal-scorer Mitchell White. A senior and team captain, Varnum had four goals and six assists in 2014. A proven distributor throughout his career, he has shown the ability to score goals in bunches, netting seven as a freshman in 2013.
An all-IIAC pick in each of the last three seasons, Neumann has the ability to be one of the top goal-scorers in the league. Despite drawing increased attention from opposing defenses after bursting on the scene with 12 goals as a freshman in 2013, the senior has managed to score 26 career goals, good for eighth all-time at Simpson. His 17 assists rank fifth all-time and are just four shy of tying the school record.
THE COACH
Rick Isaacson enters his fifth season at Simpson in 2015, where he is 45-34-4 since taking over in 2011. Isaacson has led the Storm to the IIAC Tournament in each of his four seasons and has won at least 12 games in each of the last three seasons, including a career-best 13 in 2012.
RETURNING ALL-IIAC PERFORMERS
Marcus Varnum (2014-2nd, 2013-1st, 2012-HM); Tyler Nuemann (2014-HM, 2013-2nd, 2012-2nd); Josh Harry (2014-HM); Louis Joslyn (2014-HM)
RETURNING STARTERS
GK Zach McEntee, D Josh Harry, MF Garrett Pochop, MF Louis Joslyn, MF Nick Joslyn, MF Marcus Varnum, MF Cody Jacobson, F Tyler Neumann
IIAC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
T1. Loras, 53 (4); T1. Wartburg, 53 (4); 3. Luther, 44; 4. Simpson, 37; 5. Dubuque, 33; 6. Central, 26; T7. Buena Vista, 17; T7. Coe, 17
