ANNVILLE, Pa. – Over the course of this week, the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) will announce the results of the Preseason Coaches' Poll for the fall sports ahead of the 2021 season. In the coming days, the MAC Commonwealth will release the results for the Preseason Polls for women's soccer (Monday, Aug. 23), men's soccer (Tuesday, Aug. 24), field hockey (Wednesday, Aug. 24), and women's volleyball (Friday, Aug. 26).
This season's action will mark the first regular season contests since the fall of 2019 after COVID-19 canceled the 2020 season last year. All four of the fall sports with polls out today, completed in a shortened exhibition season last spring with a small handful of events each.
The men's soccer team will be the lone fall sport to open the season at home with the Falcons hosting Penn State Harrisburg on Sept. 1 at 7:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field. The women's soccer and field hockey teams will start their home slate on Sept. 4 with field hockey hosting Mary Washington and women's soccer taking on William Smith in a re-match of the 2019 National Championship Game. Women's volleyball will host their first matches of the season with a tri-match against Gettysburg and Lynchburg on Sept. 11.
Check back throughout the week for updated polls as they are released.
Monday, Aug. 23 – Women's Soccer
The defending National Champion Messiah women's soccer team was picked atop the MAC Commonwealth with all eight first-place votes for a total of 64 points. Messiah went 22-1-3 in 2019 en route to their National Championship, winning the MAC Commonwealth Title along the way with a 3-0 victory over Arcadia in the Championship Game.
Since the end of the 2019 season, the MAC Commonwealth has had a bit of a facelift. Arcadia and Lycoming have moved to the MAC Freedom while Eastern and York have joined the mix. As mentioned, the Falcons were picked as the favorite by all eight of the other coaches in the conference, earning 64 points. Stevenson took second place with 45 points while Albright and newcomer York tied for third with 43 points. Lebanon Valley rounded out the top-five with 39 points.
The Falcons have been the team to beat in the Conference with a record of 140-1-6 since
Scott Frey took over prior to the 2000 season. During those 20 seasons, Messiah has claimed 17 Conference Championships and appeared in the Finals every season.
2021 MAC Commonwealth Women's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll
1 – Messiah, 64 points (8 first-place votes)
2 – Stevenson, 45 points
t3 – Albright, 43 points
t3 – York, 43 points
5 - Lebanon Valley, 39 points
6 – Eastern, 34 points
7 – Widener, 31 points
8 – Hood, 15 points
9 – Alvernia, 10 points
Tuesday, Aug. 24 – Men's Soccer
The defending MAC Commonwealth Champions have once again been picked to claim the Conference Championship by the MAC Coaches in the Preseason Poll. Messiah earned all eight first-place votes to pick-up 64 total points in the poll. In 2019, Messiah defeated Lycoming 2-1 in the MAC Commonwealth Championship to earn their 18th Conference Championship in program history.
Since that Conference Title, Lycoming has moved to the MAC Freedom along with Arcadia and the Conference has welcomed York College and Eastern University into the mix.
As mentioned, the Falcons take home all eight first-place votes for a unanimous first-place pick. Conference newcomer York, slots in at No. 2 with 48 points while Eastern and Stevenson each earned 47 points to tie for third. Lebanon Valley rounds out the top five with 40 points.
Messiah has consistently been the team to beat in the conference, claiming 15 of the last 20 Conference Championships, dating back to the 2000 season.
2021 MAC Commonwealth Men's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll
1 – Messiah, 64 points (8 first-place votes)
2 – York, 48 points
t3 – Eastern, 47 points
t3 – Stevenson, 47 points
5 – Lebanon Valley, 40 points
6 – Alvernia, 32 points
7 – Widener, 22 points
8 – Hood, 14 points
9 – Albright, 10 points
Wednesday, Aug. 25 - Field Hockey
On Wednesday morning, the MAC announced that Messiah field hockey was picked as the favorite in the MAC Commonwealth Preseason Poll. The Falcons earned all eight first-place votes, picking up 64 total points. Messiah has claimed 18 of the last 19 Conference Championships contested, including 13-straight, a run that dates back to the 2007 season.
The Falcons sit 10 points clear of the York Spartans, a new addition to the MAC Commonwealth this past year. York earned 54 points to take second place in the Preseason Poll. Lebanon Valley and Widener tied for third with 47 points, while Alvernia rounded out the top five with 33 points.
The Falcons begin their season on the road at Dickinson on Sept. 1 at 4:30 p.m. and are scheduled to open up their conference slate on Sept. 22 in Annville against the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen at 7:00 p.m.
2021 MAC Commonwealth Field Hockey Coaches' Preseason Poll
1 - Messiah - 64 points (8 first-place votes)
2 - York - 54 points
t3 - Lebanon Valley - 47 points
t3 - Widener - 47 points
5 - Alvernia - 33 points
6 - Eastern - 28 points
7 - Albright - 22 points
8 - Stevenson - 21 points
9 - Hood - 8 points
Friday, Aug. 27 - Women's Volleyball
On Friday morning, the MAC released their women's volleyball preseason poll for the 2021 season. The Messiah Falcons earned 50 points, claiming the third spot behind Stevenson and conference-newcomer Eastern. The Mustangs claimed six first-place votes for 62 total points while the Eastern Eagles were just ahead of the Falcons with 54 points and a pair of first-place votes.
The York Spartans, another new face to the MAC Commonwealth, took fourth with 42 points while Lebanon Valley earned the final first-place vote and 40 total points to round out the top-five in fifth.
Messiah beings the 2021 season on Sept. 3-4 at the Gettysburg Tournament with matches against Penn State Berks, Rowan, Montclair State, and Dickinson. The Falcons' first home contests of the year will take place on Sept. 11 with a tri-match against Gettysburg and Lynchburg.
2021 MAC Commonwealth Women's Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll
1 – Stevenson – 62 points (6 first-place votes)
2 – Eastern – 54 points (2 first-place votes)
3 – Messiah – 50 points
4 – York – 41 points
5 – Lebanon Valley – 40 points (1 first-place vote)
6 – Widener – 32 points
7 – Alvernia – 18 points
8 – Hood – 14 points
9 – Albright – 13 points
