* Classes weighted by TopDrawerSoccer.com Players To Watch® & Top 100 Lists
* Number in parenthesis represents Players To Watch® Top 100 ranking


No. 1: Evansville

Evansville has the right mix of youth and veteran leadership to make one believe they could be poised for a run this season.

Leading the crew of ambitious freshman is Gavin Chura (49), an attacker who has tasted success both personally and in relation to his team, been a major contributor for the Fort Wane Fever. Chura is a good athlete with good shooting and passing skill.

Jesse Sharp is another goal scorer who could contribute early by way of the Fort Wayne Fever. Goalkeeper Robert Randant will add depth for the team in goal, and has played in the U.S. Development Soccer league for the Scott Gallagher club. Defenseman Cole Page was a member of Javanon’s (Kentucky) team that reached the USYS final a year ago.

Rounding out the class is Patrick Kalua, of Indiana.

No. 2: Missouri State

MSU welcomes in a class of seven hoping to improve on a third-place finish in the conference a year ago.

Midfielder Derek Taddie will help. The Sereno Classic product will bring more talented to an already gifted corps. Goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg, of Indiana, will add depth behind standout incumbent keeper Alex Riggs.

Defender/midfielder Francesco Capone and forward Eric Martin are high school teammates – an underrated aspect of recruiting when trying to help players meld into a unit. Midfielder Jared Gain (Arizona) also arrives, along with defender Jared Clark (Atlanta), who is capable of playing on either side of the ball.  

No. 3: Eastern Illinois

If there’s one team most in need of a jolt it’s certainly Eastern Illinois, who finished last in the Missouri Valley in 2008 while failing to win a game.

The Panthers have said goodbye to key players like Brad Peters and Adam Gartner, but also wave hello to seven fresh faces.

Ryan Warren is a well regarded midfielder from the Colorado Rapids of the Development Academy. Warren has a good feel for the goal and should be able to help when called upon right away.

Other midfielders include the speedy and versatile Kyle Bullock (Illinois), Alex Koch, of Scott Gallagher, Jerry Maddi (Chicago) and Kendal Spurgin. Goalkeeper Shailer Thomas, another Illinois product who has been a staple on ODP teams, will join the group as will transfer Trevor Kohlrus, a defender.

No. 4: Drake

The Bulldogs will once again be a force to reckon with and have a host of important returners including: midfielders Matt Kuhn, Ryan Moylan and Kevin Shrout and defenders Julien Edwards, Calvin Clark and Nick Foster.

At a program like Drake, it will be a challenge for some of the new recruits to break into the lineup but at the very least the annual contender will have some good depth in a variety of positions.

Goalkeeper Rich Gallagher (Lake Forest Academy) will likely learn behind starting keeper Michael Drozd, while incoming midfielders Nick Mims (Iowa), David Parato (St. Louis) and Michael Rummelhart (Iowa) will have plenty of examples as well.

On the backline, Joe Lyons (Iowa) and Thayne Griffin (Kansas) will work to contribute as the program pushes to knock Creighton off the top perch.  

OTHERS
In fairness, Creighton only lost a couple of players, so last year’s NCAA tournament participant doesn’t have many spots available. They did make room for Arsenal speedster Dion Acoff (37), a national pool player and major talent who could have a serious impact as his career progresses.

Bradley will add Jochen Graf, an Andromeda Soccer Club prospect who led his team to a national championship a year ago.