Men’s Soccer Picked Sixth in America East Preseason Poll

CAMBRDIGE, MASS. – The University at Albany men’s soccer team was tabbed sixth in the America East preseason poll, the league announced on Wednesday. The Great Danes went 3-4-0 in the league last season and lost to New Hampshire in penalty kicks in the opening round of the 2012 tournament.

The Great Danes collected 21 points to rank sixth in the preseason poll for the second consecutive year. UMBC took the top spot unanimously with 49 points and seven first-place votes from the league’s coaches. Stony Brook was predicted to finish second with 40 points, and Vermont rounded out the top three with 36 points.

UAlbany returns nine starters from a squad that went 6-11-1 last season and earned its third consecutive America East tournament bid. The Great Danes welcome back their top four goal-scorers from 2012, including juniors Brandon Wilson and Pomare Te Anau, and sophomores Philip Persson and Anthony Rozzano. Thomas Manz, Dominic McGarr and Chris Nisser, the 2013 captains, will lead the defense along with returning goalkeeper Tim Allen.

The Great Danes will travel to Poughkeepsie this weekend for an exhibition match against Marist. The team opens their season in Northridge, Calif., against Cal State Northridge and Cal State Fullerton at the Ryan Rossi Memorial Tournament on Aug. 30-Sept. 1. UAlbany opens the America East season at Stony Brook on Sept. 28.

2013 America East Preseason Poll