LEXINGTON ? The Kentucky men?s soccer team has been chosen as the preseason favorite to win the 2004 Mid-American Conference title and the MAC Tournament, it was announced Wednesday.

The Wildcats received five of seven first-place votes from the league?s coaches to beat out second choice Akron for the top spot. Western Michigan was picked third followed by Marshall and Northern Illinois. Bowling Green and Buffalo rounded out the predictions.

Kentucky also received five first place-votes to be the favorite to win the MAC Tournament. The Wildcats have won the event, which awards the winner an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, three times in the past five years.

Last season, Kentucky went 6-0-0 in MAC play and became the first team in conference history to not allow a goal in league play. It was the third time in the past four years the Wildcats won the conference crown.

Leading the charge for a fourth title will be senior Jamal Shteiwi, the 2003 MAC Player of the Year. He finished last season ranked 11th in the nation in assists after shattering the school record with 13.

He will aided by forward Riley O?Neill, who led UK with seven goals en route to winning MAC Newcomer of the Year honors as a freshman.

The stingy Kentucky defense will be anchored by 2003 first-team All-MAC goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum. He ranked 17th in the country in goals allowed a year ago.

Kentucky, two days into its preseason training, travels to Fort Wayne, Ind., on Friday night for an exhibition with Michigan State in the IPFW/adidas Classic. That game will be followed by an exhibition on Sunday against second-ranked St. John?s.