ELMHURST, Ill. - After winning its first-ever College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Championship last year, the Elmhurst College men's soccer team has been picked to repeat as conference champions in a preseason vote of the league's coaches. 

The Bluejays were a near unanimous pick at the top of the poll, finishing with 48 points out of a maximum 49 points. Elmhurst received six of the seven available first-place votes. The Bluejays wrapped up the 2009 season with a 13-4-4 overall record and an unblemished 5-0-2 mark in the CCIW. Elmhurst also advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.

Wheaton College finished second in the voting with 43 points, including a first-place vote. Carthage College was tabbed for third place with 33 points, while North Park University finished fourth with 32 points, including the last first-place vote. 

Illinois Wesleyan University (25 points), Augustana College (16 points), North Central College (16 points) and Millikin University (11 points) rounded out the final four spots in the poll.

Points are assigned in reverse order of voting (seven points for first, six for second, etc.) and coaches may not vote for their own team.

Elmhurst lost only two seniors and return 10 starters from the 2009 season. The Bluejays open the 2010 season by facing Ohio Wesleyan University at Wheaton College's Bob Baptista Invitational on September 3.