Storm land fourth in A-R-C Preseason Coaches’ Poll

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The Simpson College men's soccer team is selected fourth after the American Rivers Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll was announced Wednesday by the league office.

Dubuque is picked first after winning the conference championship during the fall-to-spring slate in 2020-21 with the help of the Storm defeating Loras in the season finale to hand the Spartans the title. The Duhawks are second and Luther sits third in the rankings, while Wartburg, Central, Nebraska Wesleyan, Buena Vista and Coe round out the rest of the poll, respectively.

Simpson finished the spring with a 3-2-2 mark in a conference-only format to land fifth in the league standings. Junior Jordy Triana-Vasquez tied for first in the league with two game-winning netters and tied for second with five goals.

As a unit, the Storm return four of their six all-conference performers from last season's team. Senior Baraka Ellie and Triana-Vasquez were named to the all-conference team, while seniors Ricardo Ibarra and Enrique Idehen were honorable mention picks. Ibarra and Idehen both received A-R-C Player of the Week accolades during the spring, with Ibarra showcasing his talents on the defensive side and Idehen on offense. 

Senior Ian Dean tallied the program's ninth College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America honor after he landed on the third team. Six of those selections have been under head coach Rick Isaacson's tutelage.

Simpson's fall slate begins Wednesday, Sept. 1 in a 7 p.m. battle against Augustana inside Buxton Stadium.

2021 American Rivers Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Dubuque (8-1-1, 6-1-1 A-R-C)
2. Loras (5-0-3, 5-0-3 A-R-C)
3. Luther (5-2-1, 5-2-1 A-R-C)
4. Simpson (3-2-2, 3-2-2 A-R-C)
5. Wartburg (5-2, 5-2 A-R-C)
6. Central (3-4-1, 3-4-1 A-R-C)
7. Nebraska Wesleyan (2-4, 2-4 A-R-C)
8. Buena Vista (0-8, 0-8 A-R-C)
9. Coe (1-7, 1-7 A-R-C)