RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On Thursday, the Great American Conference released the results of the 2024 GAC/MIAA men’s coaches ballot. Southern Nazarene captured all six available first-place votes to enter the season as the preseason favorite
Last season, the Crimson Storm won their third-straight regular-season title and successfully repeated as GAC/MIAA Tournament champions. They return GAC/MIAA Offensive Player Unaiz Shajani and Newcomer of the Year Francisco Chong. Shajani led the conference with 13 goals and tied for the league lead with 32 points. Chong delivered stellar play from his midfield position and contributed a goal and an assist. They bring back additional All-GAC selections in defender Esteban Ramirez and goalkeeper Andrej Krivokapic. Krivokapic ranked second in the league in goals-against average and shutouts.
Rogers State placed second in the voting. They took second to Southern Nazarene in the regular season and reached the final of the GAC/MIAA Championships. The Hillcats return four All-GAC/MIAA selections in forward Marcos Vasallo, defenders Artur Carvalho and Trindon Turner plus goalkeeper Declan Viljoen. Vasallo took second to Shajani in goals with 12 and his 28 points ranked third. Viljoen registered four shutouts. The team’s seven shutouts ranked second.
Fort Hays State claimed the third position in the poll. Alex Nichols takes over as the Tigers’ head coach. He won a pair of national championships at the NAIA level. His first team features four returning All-GAC/MIAA selections in midfielder Tadhg Walsh, forward Elias Ovelar Semeniuk, defender Chris Rios-Cruz and goalkeeper Ben Dixon. Walsh, a First-Team performer, scored four goals and collected 11 points. Ovelar Semeniuk ranked second on the team with seven goals - including three game winners - and 16 points. Dixon came up with four shutouts.
Northeastern State followed the Tigers in fourth. The RiverHawks led the conference in shutouts and goals-against average. Honorable Mention All-GAC selections Donovan Aparicio and Marcovich Brown return for the RiverHawks. Brown’s five assists tied for the team lead.
Newman finished in fifth place. Harding and Ouachita Baptist rounded out the ranking. The Jets’ Alberto Romano led the conference in shots per game and ranked in the top 10 in goals, assists and points.
The regular season begins in exactly three weeks with all seven schools taking to the pitch on Thursday, September 5. The Crimson Storm, open at home with a top-25 matchup with McKendree. The Hillcats travel to No. 12 Maryville. Fort Hays State hosts Rockhurst; the RiverHawks visit Missouri S&T; Newman faces Oklahoma Christian; Harding welcomes in Union and Ouachita Baptist squares off with Christian Brothers.
The 2024 GAC/MIAA Men’s Championships takes place on Friday, November 15 and Sunday, November 17 at the venue of the regular-season champion.