MIT ranked high in NEWMAC preseason polls
Engineers are the first favorite to win in cross country, field hockey, second in soccer
Men’s soccer
MIT men’s soccer, which won its first New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) title in program history last year, was picked second in the conference’s preseason coaches’ poll that was released on Tuesday afternoon.
Babson College was the favorite, receiving five first-place votes. Following MIT was Wheaton College, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy was fourth as all three squads earned one first-place vote.
The Engineers entered the 2012 NEWMAC tournament in the fifth and final spot, defeating No. 4 Wheaton in overtime, advancing over No. 1 Babson in penalty kicks and taking a 2-0 win over No. 3 Springfield College in the championship final to claim their first title in the program’s 94-year history. MIT received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, resulting in its third national appearance, and first since 2008. The Engineers fell to Oneonta State in the first round and ended the season with a record of 13-5-2.
MIT kicks off the 2013 campaign in New York at the CSI Soccer Fall Classic, playing host College of Staten Island on August 31 at 4:00 p.m. and Brooklyn College on September 1 at 2:00 p.m. The first conference game that MIT will play will be against NEWMAC newcomer Emerson College on September 21.
1. Babson College (5)
2. MIT (1)
3. Wheaton College (1)
4. Coast Guard Academy (1)
5. Springfield College
6. WPI
7. Clark University
8. Emerson College
Field hockey
In the inaugural NEWMAC Field Hockey Preseason Poll, defending champion MIT sat atop the standings courtesy of six first-place votes. Regular-season champion Babson College finished second in the rankings while Springfield College and Wellesley College tied for third.
The Engineers, who posted a ledger of 17-3 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year, kick off the 2013 season on Friday, August 30 against New England College. MIT’s pursuit of its fourth NEWMAC title in five years begins on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 2012 runner-up Springfield College.
1. MIT (6)
2. Babson College (1)
3. Springfield College (1)
4. Wellesley College (1)
5. Mount Holyoke College
6. Clark University
7. WPI
8. Smith College
9. Wheaton College
Cross country
The MIT men’s and women’s cross country teams were voted atop the standings in the first-ever NEWMAC preseason coaches’ poll, announced on Monday.
The MIT men’s squad has claimed the NEWMAC title every year since the conference’s inception in 1998, picking up its 15th win this past season. The Engineers received eight votes for the top spot, the highest possible number it could earn. WPI was second, and Springfield College and Coast Guard Academy tied for third.
On the women’s side, the Engineers received all 11 first-place votes, after having won the last six consecutive conference titles. Wellesley College was second and was followed by Wheaton College in third.
Both teams will open the 2013 season at the Alumni Meet on August 31 at Franklin Park. The first official meet of the season will not be until September 21, when the Engineers will travel to Gorham, Maine for the USM Invitational.
1. MIT (8)
2. WPI
3. Coast Guard Academy
4. Springfield College
5. Babson College
6. Clark University
7. Wheaton College
8. Emerson College