Dominican looks to extend their run of NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship appearances to five, while claiming the first title of the NAC.

Dominican tabbed preseason favorite by NAC men's soccer coaches
VERONA, Wis. -- Dominican University received nine of the 11 first place votes in the preseason coaches' poll, and were picked to win the Northern Athletics Conference men's soccer title this upcoming season. Aurora University, who received the remaining two first place votes, was tabbed second in the poll. Concordia University Wisconsin was selected third.

The Stars (17-2-1) have made four consecutive trips to the NCAA Championship, all via at-large bids, and look to continue the trend. They have also won four conference championships in the last six years, including last year in the former Lake Michigan Conference, and three in 2000, 2001 and 2003 in the former Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference. Dominican is currently in the honorable mention section of the D3Kicks.com top 25 poll, just eight spots back of cracking the poll.

Aurora University (16-4-1) looks to challenge the Stars for the inaugural NAC title. The Spartans are coming off their second consecutive season with 15+ wins, after finishing 1-19 in 2002. Aurora won the NIIC title in 2004 with a 15-3-4 record.

The Falcons (11-5-5) have made NCAA Championship appearances in 2002 and 2003, and came up a game short last season, finishing second in the LMC tournament championship.

The complete Northern Athletics Conference Preseason Poll follows.

2006 NAC Preseason Poll

1. Dominican (9) 118
2. Aurora (2) 105
3. Concordia Wisconsin 96
4. Edgewood 90
5. Lakeland 73
6. Concordia Chicago 58
7. Marian 52
8. Wisconsin Lutheran 51
9. Benedictine 37
10. Maranatha Baptist 27
11. Rockford 19

First place votes are noted in parentheses ( ), followed by total points received.

Northern Athletics Conference, Sports Information Department, August 29, 2006.