Posted: Aug 24, 2022

Men's Soccer Tabbed Second in PAC Preseason Poll

GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Bethany College men's soccer team is selected to finish second in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) this fall.

Grove City is the league's favorite, according to the PAC's annual preseason poll, which is voted on by the conference's 11 head coaches.

Bethany, led by fourth-year head coach Frankie Taal, boasts four first-place votes and 94 total points. Appearing in the championship tournament's title match for the first time since 2010 last season, Bethany earned a 3-1 win at No. 2 Franciscan University on Nov. 6 to secure its league-best 31st PAC championship. It was the program's first conference title since 2001. Taal was voted the PAC Coach of the Year last fall.

"I am very much looking forward to the up-and-coming season," says Taal. "We are young with some experience and a lot of depth as well."

"Last season was great and special. However, we are very aware of how competitive the conference is, with five or six quality teams," adds Taal. "The expectations are high, as the bar has been raised high. I expect the boys to play at a very high standard and return to the PAC championship match and the NCAA tournament."

Juniors Sebastian Arrocain (Chivilcoy, Buenos Aires, Argentina/Campus Lincoln), Rokeba Cordice (All Saints Village, Antigua/All Saints Secondary), and Jahzinho O'Garro (St. John's Antigua/Princess Margaret) along with sophomores Fausto Gionchetti (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Oakhill) and Valentin Ursino (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Instituto Carazon de Maria) are this season's PAC Players to Watch.

"With the leadership of Sebastian Arrocain, Sheldon Christian, Adis Salihovic, and Santiago Bruni, I expect the boys to train, play, and perform at a very high level," says Taal. "Our back four and midfield diamond is going to be our key positions, and I expected a great of competition for starting positions and playing time."

The Bison return three All-PAC honorees with Arrocain, Cordice and O'Garro. Arrocain finished the season with three goals and three assists. In the semi-final match against Grove City, Arrocain scored the first goal of the match and assisted on the game-winning goal to send the Bison to the PAC Championship match. Cordice and O'Garro are key components for the Bison defense this upcoming season.

Ursino was a key component last season in the PAC Championship match and first round of the NCAA Tournament, scoring the game-winning goal to lift the Bison to their 31st PAC Championship.

The Bison open their 2022 season at home at Don Ault Field at Bison Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 1, against Mt. Aloysius at 7:30 p.m.

2022 PAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll (Predicted order of finish)

School (first-place votes) Points 2021 record (conference)

1. Grove City College (5) 103 9-9 (7-2 PAC)

2. Bethany College (4) 94 10-8-1 (5-4 PAC)

3. Westminster College (2) 85 12-9 (7-2 PAC)

4. Geneva College 82 6-9-3 (4-4-1 PAC)

5. Franciscan University 79 11-6 (7-2 PAC)

T-6. Chatham University 66 9-7-1 (6-3 PAC)

T-6. Washington & Jefferson College 66 5-8 (4-5 PAC)

8. Allegheny College 50 6-11 (2-7 NCAC)

9. Waynesburg University 36 3-12-1 (2-6-1 PAC)