Flyers picked fourth
Stevens first in E8 pre-season poll
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth's men's soccer team has been picked to finish in fourth place in the Empire 8 Conference standings for the 2008 season, according to a pre-season poll conducted among the league's eight head coaches.
The Golden Flyers, 8-9-2 overall last season, amassed 31 points in the poll to finish behind Stevens (49), St. John Fisher (38) and Ithaca (36). The top four finishers in the Empire 8 make the post-season tournament. Nazareth finished in fourth in 2007 with a conference record of 4-3.
Under the direction of fifth-year coach Danny Gilbertson, the Golden Flyers open the 2008 season Aug. 30 against 20th-ranked Hobart as part of the Doug May Memorial Classic, hosted by RIT. Nazareth also plays Gallaudet Aug. 31 at 11 a.m.
With 49 points, Stevens (17-1-3 last season) was a unanimous selection to finish first. Last season, the Ducks became the first top-seeded team since Ithaca in 2002 to win the conference tournament. The third or fourth seed had won or shared the E8 title the previous four years. Stevens is ranked 17th nationally in the NSCAA/adidas pre-season poll.
2008 Empire 8 Pre-Season Coaches Poll
1. Stevens.............................49 points
2. St. John Fisher.................38
3. Ithaca.................................36
4. Nazareth............................31
5. RIT......................................26
6. Utica...................................24
7. Alfred..................................10
Elmira.................................10