CAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll and Preview Show

CAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll and Preview Show

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The credentials back up the top three picks in the 2014 CAC men's soccer preseason coach's poll – York, Christopher Newport and Salisbury.  The balance throughout the rest of the conference indicates the dangerous nature of playing a conference opponent.

The coaches picked five-time defending CAC champion York to claim the championship trophy again this year.  But with 77 overall votes (five first-place nods), the Spartans are expected to get strong challenges from CNU (73 points, four first-place votes) and Salisbury (69 points, one first-place vote).  

The middle of the pack is tight, with Mary Washington (52 points) edging Frostburg State (49) for fourth place.  Wesley (40) and St. Mary's (35) received strong consideration, followed by Marymount (23), Penn State Harrisburg (21) and Southern Virginia (11).

York is just the second program in conference history to win five-straight men's soccer titles, and has been to the NCAA Tournament nine-straight years.  The Spartans won the 2013 crown at Salisbury after finishing second in the regular-season standings.

CNU won its conference title five of its last seven seasons prior to joining the CAC in 2013 and has advanced to the NCAA Tournament six times in the last eight years, including a pair of Elite 8 appearances.  The Captains fell at York in penalty kicks in the 2013 CAC semifinal round.

Salisbury has won the CAC title seven times since 1999 and has been to the NCAA Tournament nine times in the past 12 years.  The host Gulls, who defeated YCP 3-1 during the 2013 regular season on the way to winning the regular-season crown, lost to the Spartans in the 2011 and 2013 title matches, both by 1-0 margins.

Mary Washington and Frostburg State regularly advance in conference playoff action, and both were under consideration for regional ranking during the 2013 campaign.  Can either team, or others, break into the top three this year?

Those questions and more will be answered when the 10 CAC members battle for the 2014 championship and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which will be determined on Saturday, Nov. 8.  Until then, here is a quick look at each team heading into the season, which begins with numerous matches and tournaments on Labor Day Weekend:

Expectations will be high for CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT in 2014, returning all but two starters from last year's squad, that finished 13-5-2. CNU will lean on senior All-American forward Jalon Brown after earning his second straight Conference Player of the Year laurels. Brown is among the program's all-time leaders in goals, assists and points. Anchoring the defense is fellow senior Alec Faulkner, an NSCAA All-Region selection for the second time in 2013. The Captains return several players from injury and welcome in a talented group of fresh faces to the fold in 2014, with sights set high on a return to postseason play.

The 2014 version of the FROSTBURG STATE men's soccer team will look vastly different from a year ago with graduation of 13 seniors, including the Bobcats' top four goal scorers.  However, 13th year head coach Keith Byrnes returns a talented but young group of players who are up to the challenge.  Seniors Bryan WhitmoreBryan Lentine and Joe Clarke will be the cornerstones of this year's roster as FSU looks for a spot in the CAC Tournament for the fourth-straight year.

MARY WASHINGTON will look to build upon a 2013 season that saw the Eagles win 12 matches with eight freshmen among the regular lineup. Offensively, the Eagles will look to All-CAC sophomore Riley Fisher, as well as classmates Jacob Burke and Carlos Mendoza. Defensively, the Eagles welcome back senior goalkeeper Tyler Back after missing most of 2013 with injury. He will be joined by Carlos Vasquez as the Eagles look to capture their ninth CAC championship crown.

A very young MARYMOUNT squad will be even younger this 2014 season, returning six sophomores while also acquiring a handful of rookies to round out the roster.  Head coach Keith Moser welcomes back both primary goalkeepers in juniors Logan Cropper and Kurt Michaels, as well as two of Marymount's top three goal-scorers from 2013 – sophomore Ahmed Elmanialawy and lone senior Jorge Alvardo.

For a team that found itself on the losing end of seven heartbreaking one-goal contests last fall, PENN STATE HARRISBURG will be focused on finishing in 2014. The Blue & White will rely heavily on experienced seniors including Jon WillinghamHakan DemircanMike Jones and Matthew Hyson to steady the team and provide leadership for an otherwise young team. The Lions expect youngsters from a year ago the likes of Jonathan VanaskieAustin Katz and Malik Cameron to take on larger roles and make more of an impact this season.

ST. MARY'S is looking to greatly improve upon last season's campaign, which saw the Seahawks just miss a CAC playoff spot. The team will look to All-CAC selection, Nick Tait (1g, 2a), and a solid group of newcomers to lead them in the right direction.

SALISBURY looks to compete for its eighth Capital Athletic Conference tournament title this season, as the team returns its leading scorer seniorTanner East. East scored eight goals and tallied 19 points, as both were team highs. Junior goalkeeper Drew Staedeli, senior backs Kyle Westbrookand Logan Becker, and senior midfielder Stephen Poorman all come back, as well, to lead the defense, after starting all 22 games last season. With 18 wins and a 0.50 goals against average in 2013, the group anchored the No. 6 defense in the country.

As SOUTHERN VIRGINIA gears up for the 2014 season, it will look to its new head coach, Josh Patiño, to lead the way. The Knights are now eligible for the Capital Athletic Conference tournament, thus a top-six finish in the CAC race is the ultimate goal for the team.  Southern Virginia lost its leading scorer from a year ago in freshman Sam Bunnell as he left to serve a two-year church mission as well as freshmen Marrott Weekes and Declan Johnson. Returning on the defensive backfront is senior Max Doxey, who has two years of starting experience and leadership ability to guide the team. Cort Cox and Carlos Munoz return as sophomores after picking up significant experience from a year ago. Cox and Munoz scored one goal apiece and were featured on the CAC Honor Roll multiple times last season.

CAC Rookie of the Year Will Mileski and fellow All-CAC performers Sheldon Blue and Oluwatobi Sowande return to WESLEY, led by 25th year head coach Steve Clark.  The youngest team in the conference last year still qualified for the CAC Playoffs in 2013 and will have even more depth this year as Emman AmaoShane CaseyRobert DinaShaune Gorman and Holden Wingate all return as upperclassman.  Among the newcomers who could generate a large bulk of playing time are Zach BakerJohn Cianciulli and Brad Howell.

The five-time defending Capital Athletic Conference YORK Spartans welcome back a strong core of returners headlined by All-CAC juniors Brendan Saberton and Ryan Donahue. Head Coach Mark Ludwig believes an influx of talented transfers and freshman provide the Spartans with a needed boost after the graduation of five All-CAC performers including All-American defender Aaron Beale. Saberton returns as the Spartans leading scorer as he notched ten goals with three assists but the next six York scorers have graduated. The Spartans will take aim on their 10th straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

2014 CAC Men's Soccer Pre-Season Coaches Poll

1. York (Pa.) (5 first-place votes) 77 points
2. Christopher Newport (4 first-place votes) 73 points
3. Salisbury (1 first-place vote) 69 points
4. Mary Washington   52 points
5. Frostburg State   49 points
6. Wesley    40 points
7. St. Mary's (Md.)   35 points
8. Marymount (Va.)    23 points
9. Penn State Harrisburg   21 points
10. Southern Virginia    11 points