The 2019 Summit League men’s soccer regular season is down to the final three. If the season were to end today, the four teams in the postseason would be Oral Roberts, Omaha, Western Illinois and Eastern. Omaha was the only team that is in its right predicted spot based off the preseason poll.

Oral Roberts was predicted at the beginning of the season to finish fourth in the Summit League standings. In 2018 Oral Roberts finished in last place of the Summit League Standings with a conference record of 0-3-2.

Oral Roberts’ conference record is 3-0, and it has three of the Summit League’s leading scorers: Reed Barry (9), Dante Brigidia (8) and Juan Arias (3).

Its upcoming schedule is the toughest one. It will play Western Illinois and Omaha.

The preseason poll predicted Denver and Omaha to be in first and second place. Denver has yet to win a conference game with an overall conference record of 0-2-1.

Denver lost its leading goal-scorer in Andre Shinyashiki, whose 28 goals also led the NCAA. This year Denver has only scored 11 goals total as a team.

Omaha’s conference record is 2-0-1. Its wins came against Western Illinois and Fort Wayne. Its one tie was  a 0-0 match against Eastern.

Omaha finishes out its season against Oral Roberts and Denver.

Rounding out the final four at the moment are Western Illinois and Eastern. At the beginning of the season, both teams were predicted to finish in fifth and sixth place.

Western Illinois’ conference record is 2-1. Its wins came against Denver and Fort Wayne and a loss came against Ohama. Western Illinois will finish its conference play against Eastern and Oral Roberts.

The challenging part of Eastern’s conference play is done, with its only conference loss being against Oral Roberts. Its other two results were double-overtime ties against Denver and Omaha.

Eastern will finish its conference play against Western Illinois and Fort Wayne.

Fort Wayne is 0-3 in conference play. So with Eastern finishing its conference play against Fort Wayne, there is a strong chance that Eastern will be in the Summit League Tournament.

Based off the remainder of each team’s conference schedules and the results so far, here are my predictions for the final standings:

1. Oral Roberts : 5-0

2. Omaha: 3-1-1

3. Eastern Illinois: 2-1-2

4. Western Illinois: 2-3

5. Denevr: 1-3-1

6. Fort Wayne: 0-5

The Panthers have played with a high sense of urgency throughout the season and competed already against the toughest of the conference. So their levels have already been tested by the best of the Summit.

Blake Faith can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].