SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Southern Conference men’s soccer coaches have picked Furman to win the league title this season. In addition, 13 student-athletes have been selected to the preseason all-conference team.
Furman, which finished third in the league last season with a 4-2-1 conference mark, narrowly edged defending regular season and tournament champions, UNC Greensboro. The Paladins received five first-place votes and 46 points overall, while the Spartans garnered three first-place nods and 45 total points. Appalachian State finished third in the voting, ahead of Elon, College of Charleston and Georgia Southern. Davidson and Wofford round out the poll.
Furman also leads the way on the preseason all-conference team with four selections, highlighted by the 2006 Southern Conference Player of the Year, defender Jon Leathers. Joining Leathers on the squad are forward Shea Salinas, midfielder Patrick Murray and goalkeeper Bryan Amos. Salinas was a first-team all-SoCon selection in 2006, while Murray and Amos were both members of the second team.
UNC Greensboro and Appalachian State each have three players chosen for the all-conference squad. For the Spartans, forward Thomas Campbell, midfielder Jokull Elisabetarson and defender D.J. McCurry earn recognition for a UNC Greensboro team that has reached the third round of the NCAA tournament each of the past three seasons. Junior Paul Pessina, a first-team all-SoCon selection in 2006, headlines the three Appalachian State players selected to the team. Pessina is joined by fellow Mountaineers Arie Muniz and Sean Sassano, both forwards.
Forwards Robby Hoak from Davidson and Daniel Smith from Georgia Southern have also been named to the preseason all-conference team, as has Elon midfielder Brett Paschall.
The Southern Conference men’s soccer season kicks off on Friday, August 31 with seven of the eight league teams in action. The 2007 Southern Conference Men’s Soccer Championships begin on Saturday, November 10 with first round matches played on the campuses of the four highest seeds. The semifinal and final rounds will be held November 16 and 18 at the UNCG Soccer Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.
2007 Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Furman (5) 46
2. UNC Greensboro (3) 45
3. Appalachian State 33
4. Elon 28
5t. College of Charleston 26
5t. Georgia Southern 26
7. Davidson 12
8. Wofford 8
*Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team.
2007 Men’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference
F Arie Muniz, Appalachian State
F Sean Sassano, Appalachian State
F Robby Hoak, Davidson
F Shea Salinas, Furman
F Daniel Smith, Georgia Southern
F Thomas Campbell, UNC Greensboro
MF Brett Paschall, Elon
MF Patrick Murray, Furman
MF Jokull Elisabetarson, UNC Greensboro
D Paul Pessina, Appalachian State
D Jon Leathers, Furman
D D.J. McCurry, UNC Greensboro
GK Bryan Amos, Furman