By Tim Glon

 No. 12-ranked Ohio Northern was selected as the preseason favorites to repeat as Ohio Athletic Conference men's soccer champions in 2012 in voting conducted by the league's 10 head coaches.

The Polar Bears received 74 points and seven of the 10 first place votes in the coaches poll.

Baldwin Wallace was second with 71 points and two first place votes and John Carroll was third with 64 points and the final first place vote.

The Polar Bears went 20-3-2 overall, won the OAC Regular Season crown with an 8-0-1 mark, won the OAC Tournament title and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament under 15th-year head coach Brent Ridenour.

Ohio Northern will open its 2012 campaign Sept. 1-2 at the Penn State-Behrend Tournament.

Men's Coaches Poll

Rank School Points
1. Ohio Northern (7) 74
2. Baldwin Wallace (2) 71
3. John Carroll (1) 64
4. Mount Union 61
5. Wilmington 49
6. Capital 35
7. Muskingum 31
8. Otterbein 28
9. Heidelberg 21
10. Marietta 16