ROCHESTER, Mich. ???C The Oakland University men???s soccer team has been picked to defend its Summit League championship, announced by the league office on Friday afternoon. The preseason poll was selected by the league???s seven head coaches. The Golden Grizzlies received five of the seven first place votes, with IUPUI and UMKC receiving the other two.

Oakland totaled 35 points, followed by IUPUI (26), Oral Roberts (25), UMKC (23), Western Illinois (21), Centenary (9) and IPFW (8). The Golden Grizzlies will open its preseason versus Bowling Green on Tuesday at the OU Soccer Field. The exhibition is slated for a 3 p.m. start.

Returning to the lineup for the Grizzlies is 2007 Summit League Defensive Player of the Year Ian Daniel (2 goals, 1 assist), Newcomer of the Year Martin Sandell (4 g, 2 a), and senior keeper Steve Clark who led the league with six shutouts and 92 saves. Summit League Coach of the Year Gary Parsons is at the helm for his 28th season and looks to become just the 16th Div. I coach to reach 350 wins.

The Golden Grizzlies became the first Summit League team to win an NCAA Tournament game, defeating Michigan State, 2-1, in East Lansing. OU then fell to No. 10 seed Notre Dame, 2-1, in South Bend, Ind.

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