KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan men's soccer team has been picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference preseason coaches' poll, announced by the league office on Aug. 26. WMU received two first place votes in the poll.

The Broncos (8-7-4 / 2-2-1 MAC) return 17 letterwinners from a year ago including all 11 starters. Among those are three First Team All-MAC honorees and current seniors Sean Conerty, Nick Wysong and Connor Furgason. Western Michigan boasts a total of 10 seniors on this year's roster.

Akron (13-6-2 / 4-1 MAC) received three of the six first place votes from the head coaches and was picked to finish first. The Broncos defeated Akron, ranked No. 19 nationally at the time, last year on the road during the regular season 1-0. WMU and Akron also battled in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament, with the Zips coming away with a 2-1 win. WMU held a 1-0 lead in that game as well, but five minutes apart late in the game Akron scored a pair of goals via penalty kick.

Following Akron in the poll were Western Michigan and West Virginia who tied in votes for a second place finish. Rounding out the rest of the conference were 2014 MAC Tournament runner-up Bowling Green (14-6-1 / 2-2-1 MAC), Buffalo (5-10-2 / 1-2-2 MAC) and Northern Illinois (3-9-5 / 0-4-1 MAC).

Also voted on by the coaches was the predicted 2015 MAC Tournament champion. Akron was also the top vote getter receiving three of the six votes. Western Michigan received two championship votes and West Virginia garnered the final vote.

Western Michigan opens the regular season this Friday, Aug. 28, hosting Marshall at the WMU Soccer Complex at 4 p.m. The Broncos travel to West Virginia for its first MAC contest on Oct. 9. Admission to all home men's soccer games is free.