NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – Manchester University was selected for an eighth-place finish on the 2015 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference's men's soccer coaches' preseason poll, released Thursday, Aug. 13.

The Spartans earned 26 points, just eight points behind number seven pick Defiance College of Ohio. Defending co-champion Rose-Hulman edged fellow defending co-champion Transylvania University of Kentucky 96-92 due to six first-place first votes compared to four for the projected top spot.

Head coach Dave Good's squad, which opens the 2015 season Tuesday, Sept. 1, at St. Joseph's College of Rensselaer, Ind., had four individuals mentioned in the "Players To Watch" section. Sophomore defender Tod Oram of Crown Point, Ind., joined the junior trio of midfielder Matthew Jordan of Zionsville, Ind.; forward Ola Ladapo of London, England; and junior defender Chase Holford of Valparaiso, Ind., to represent MU.

The complete 2015 HCAC men's soccer coaches' preseason poll can be viewed at http://www.heartlandconf.org/sports/msoc/2015-16/releases/8_13_preseason_poll.