MIAC Preview

The Bethel University men's soccer team opens the 2016 season this week with a pair of games, one on the road at Simpson College and the home opener Saturday afternoon against the University of Northwestern. The MIAC released the 2016 MIAC men's soccer season preview and preseason coaches poll where the Royals were slotted ninth, the same spot they finished the 2015 season. While the final spot in the standings was not what Bethel was shooting for there is a lot of optimism heading into the 2016 season as they finished 5-5 in their last 10 games in 2015 and return several key cogs. Senior forward Danny Jaderholm has been a main stay for the Royals since arriving on campus in 2013 and was the second leading scorer last year with 13 points. Junior goal keeper Jakob Bartels made an MIAC leading 97 saves a year ago and posted a pair of shutouts.

Bethel hits the road Thursday to open the season with traditional early season opponent Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon the Royals will take the field at the Ona Orth Athletic Complex when they host Snelling Avenue rival Northwestern at 1 p.m. In all, six of the Royals first nine games are at home and 11 of the 18 games on the year.