Messiah Favored In Commonwealth Conference Pre-Season Poll
The Falcons defense will be anchored by a pair of upperclassmen keepers in Nick Blossey (pictured) and Jared Clugston this fall.
Annville, PA — Messiah College has been chosen as the favorite to win the Commonwealth Conference crown during the 2008 men’s soccer season by the conference coaches in the annual pre-season poll, the league announced Monday.
The Falcons (21-3, 5-0) received 41 points in addition to four first place votes, narrowly edging out rival Elizabethtown College (40 points).
After losing their top two scorers from a year ago in Kai Kasiguran and Patrick Lenehan, sophomore Nick Thompson will return as Messiah’s leader scorer, ranking sixth in the conference last year with 23 points on 10 goals and three assists.
Ranked fourth in NCAA Division III competition in November, the Falcons reached the national semi-final, falling to eventual national champ Trinity University, 1-0.
Elizabethtown (14-6, 3-2) places second in the poll with the aforementioned 40 points and three first place votes.
The Blue Jays will lose phenom George Severini, who placed second in the conference last season with 32 points on 15 goals and two assists. Senior Matt Diller will lead the squad in 2008 after notching five game-winning goals, 11 total goals, and 32 points, all good enough for top-five marks in the conference.
Lycoming (13-5-1, 3-3) finds themselves in third place in the poll with 29 points.
The Warriors will be led offensively by junior Chris Lorenzet, who finished 2007 with 25 points on 10 goals and five assists, ranking him fifth in the conference. Senior Matt Frey will add depth on offense after a season that saw him tally eight assists, placing him third in the conference.
Lebanon Valley (6-10-2, 0-4-1) comes in fourth place in the poll with 28 points.
Junior Travis Steedle will lead a Flying Dutchmen offense after scoring 10 points a year ago on four goals and two assists. Classmate Joe Kopchick will add depth to the younger team after he posted eight points in 2007. Senior goalkeeper Tim Mehl returns to action between the pipes, saving a conference best 81 shots last season.
Widener (7-10-1, 1-3-1) earns a fifth place mark in the poll while receiving 25 points.
The Pride will come into the season led by senior Bill James, an offensive force who ranked eighth in the conference last season with 18 points on four goals and 10 assists.
Arcadia (2-14-2, 1-5) places sixth in the poll with 17 points.
Senior Matt Benner will try and guide the Knights in the university’s first season in the Commonwealth Conference after recording 11 points on five goals and one assist last season. The squad lost their top scorer Andrew Plunkett to graduation (16 points on seven goals and two assists), so Arcadia will need to replace his scoring.
Albright (8-9-2, 2-3-0) comes in seventh in the poll with 16 points.
Last season, the Lions played in the conference semifinals round for the first time in 25 years, taking on Messiah, falling 4-0.
This season the Lions look to make it back to post-season play.
2008 Commonwealth Conference Men's Soccer Pre-Season Poll
1. Messiah — 41 points (4)
2. Elizabethtown — 40 points (3)
3. Lycoming — 29 points
4. Lebanon Valley — 28 points
5. Widener — 25 points
6. Arcadia — 17 points
7. Albright — 16 points
( ) first place votes in parentheses
This press release was provided by the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation and the Commonwealth Conference.
