ALLIANCE, Ohio -- Coming off two straight 10-win seasons for the first time in nearly a decade, the Mount Union men's soccer team is poised for another run through the Ohio Athletic Conference and into the 2012 postseason.

The Purple Raiders advanced to the OAC Tournament Semifinals in 2011 and head coach John Witkowski, now in his sixth year, returns a strong core of players in 2012.

Offensively, sophomore Chris Motley (Kent/St. Vincent-St. Mary) returns after posting five goals and four assists in 18 2011 starts.  Other returning forwards that saw action in 2011 include senior Joey Trocchio (Ravenna/Rootstown) and sophomore Nic Nee (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township).  Trocchio scored a goal and started two matches a season ago.

In the midfield, Mount Union will look to senior Leo Hicks (Leetonia/Cardinal Mooney) to carry an experienced Raider line.  Hicks made 19 starts in 2011 and tallied two assists.  Joining Hicks is junior Chris Felker (Boardman/Cardinal Mooney) and sophomore Jack Weber (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley), who started 16 and 11 games, respectively, last year.  Ryan Dombrowski (North Royalton/North Royalton) also returns to the Mount Union midfield for his second season.

Senior Brant Schonauer (Walhonding/River View) is back to help anchor the Raiders' defense in 2012.  Schonauer started all 18 games in which he appeared last season.  Mount Union will rely on junior Travis Connor (Lodi/Cloverleaf), who made 15 starts in 2011, as well.  Other defensive returnees include juniors Eric Ehrenberg (Salem/Cardinal Mooney), David Nemeth (Aurora/Aurora) and Brian Farnham (Medina/Medina) and sophomore Colin Combs(Pickerington/Pickerington North).

The Mount Union defense will protect senior goalkeeper Jon Critell (Youngstown/Cardinal Mooney).  Critell is coming off an outstanding junior season.  In 2011, Critell started 19 out of 20 games, made 84 saves and finished with a 1.33 goals against average en route to being selected first team All-OAC and named the 2011 OAC Goalkeeper of the Year.

Joining John Witkowski on the 2012 coaching staff is first-year assistant Will Jaques.  Jaques earned four varsity soccer letters at Marietta College and graduated in 2011.

The Raiders kick off the 2012 season on Aug. 31 against Emory & Henry (Va.) in Bexley, Ohio, at the Capital/Fort Rapids Invitational.  After beginning the season with six games away from home, Mount Union plays Waynesburg (Pa.) on Sept. 19 for the home opener at Mount Union Stadium.  Ohio Athletic Conference play begins on Sept. 29 at Ohio Northern.

Mount Union was picked fourth in the OAC Preseason Coaches Poll a week ago.