Men’s Soccer Tabbed Fifth in America East Preseason Poll
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. – The America East’s men’s soccer coaches voted the University at Albany men’s soccer team to a fifth-place finish in the preseason poll, the league announced Tuesday.
UAlbany earned 27 points, one point shy of Stony Brook to rank fifth. The Great Danes earned their highest preseason league ranking in Trevor Gorman’s tenure as head coach. The last time the Purple & Gold earned a preseason ranking above No. 6 was in 2009, when the Great Danes garnered one first-place vote and the No. 4 spot. UAlbany reached the conference title game in 2008.
Gorman’s squad returns nine starters and 80% of its offensive production from one season ago. The Great Danes (6-11-4, 3-3-1 AE) fell 2-1 in overtime to nationally ranked and eventual 2013 league champion UMBC in the league semifinals in Baltimore.
The Retrievers were picked to win the league, earning seven first-place votes for 49 points. Hartford finished second with 42 points after falling to UMBC in the championship last season. New Hampshire took the third-place spot with 34 points. Four points separated No. 4 from No. 6, with Stony Brook taking 28 points for the fourth-place slot. Vermont came in behind UAlbany with 24 points at No. 6. Binghamton (12 points) and UMass Lowell (8 points) rounded out the eight-team poll.
UAlbany men’s soccer kicks off the 2014 season against Appalachian State on Friday, Aug. 29 at 5:00 p.m.
2014 America East Preseason Poll
|
Rank |
Team |
Points |
|
1. |
UMBC (7) |
49 |
|
2. |
Hartford (1) |
42 |
|
3. |
New Hampshire |
34 |
|
4. |
Stony Brook |
28 |
|
5. |
UAlbany |
27 |
|
6. |
Vermont |
24 |
|
7. |
Binghamton |
12 |
|
8. |
UMass Lowell |
8 |
