Thursday, August 20, 2009

MACON, Ga. - The Atlantic Sun Conference announced it preseason men's soccer poll and preseason all conference team on Thursday with Jacksonville earning the nod as the preseason favorite.

The Dolphins claimed the A-Sun Championship title a season ago in a dramatic 4-3 win against Campbell. Jacksonville went on to the NCAA tournament defeating Louisville in the first-round before falling to eventual national runner-up North Carolina in the second-round. Jacksonville picked up six first-place votes for the regular-season title and also six first-place votes for the tournament championship.

Jacksonville also led the way in Preseason All-Atlantic Sun selections with three. Goal keeper Joey Sanchez leads the way as one of the top returning net minders in the conference. Sanchez posted 1.19 goals-against average, five shutouts and a .756 save percentage all tops among returning A-Sun goal keepers. Defender Eddie Munnelly and midfielder Stefan Runeman joined Sanchez on the preseason All-Atlantic Sun Team. Runeman, a First-Team All-Atlantic Sun choice in 2008 totaled 11 points, five goals and an assist. Munnelly made the Second Team a season ago.

Lipscomb also placed three of its members on the Preseason All-Atlantic Sun team. Miguel DaSilva leads the way as the Atlantic Sun Preseason Player of the Year. DaSilva led the conference in points in 2008 posting 29 (9 goals and 11 assists) in 21 games. He ranked fifth in the league in goals scored and finished tied for the conference lead in assists. Sophomore forward Garret Pettis also made the Preseason All-Atlantic Sun team. As a freshman, he led Lipscomb in goals scored (12). Pettis also leads returning A-Sun players in points per-game (1.39). Senior defender Kezi Lara rounds out the Bisons' representation on the Preseason All-Atlantic Sun team.

With 85 points Campbell ranked second in the preseason coaches' poll. The Camels claimed the regular-season Atlantic Sun title a season ago with an unblemished 9-0-0 record. and have not lost a regular season A-Sun game since Oct. 13, 2007.

Senior midfielder Vince Petrasso accounts for one of two Preseason All-Atlantic Sun performers for Campbell. Petrasso, a First-Team All-Atlantic Sun choice in 2008 and the 2007 Tournament MVP, ranked fourth in the league in game-winning goals (three), fifth in goals per game (0.47) and seventh in points per game (1.13). Senior forward Jason Keever joins Petrasso on the Preseason All-Atlantic Sun list . Keever made the All-Atlantic Sun Second Team in 2008 after posting six goals for the Camels. He also earned A-Sun All-Academic honors for second consecutive season.

Stetson, picked fourth in the poll, also placed a pair on the Preseason All-Atlantic Sun team. Senior midfielder Fredrik Brustad earned a spot after a season in which he netted five goals to tie for the team lead. Senior defender Robert Hodge joined Brustad on the Preseason All-Atlantic Sun team. As a junior, Hodge made the All-Atlantic Sun First Team during which he started 16 games and recorded one goal and one assist.

FGCU junior goalkeeper Adam Glick rounded out the 2009 Preseason All-Atlantic Sun team. A year ago, Glick finished third in goals-against average (1.36), fourth in save percentage (.756) and third in shutouts with four. The Eagles placed sixth in the preseason poll, one spot behind Belmont.

ETSU took seventh in the poll followed by UNF, Mercer and USC Upstate. The Ospreys and Spartans have gained eligibility for the A-Sun Championships after completing various stages of the their respective D-I reclassification process. The Championship takes a different look for 2009. The event will be staged over two weekends with the third- and fourth-seeded teams hosting the fifth and sixth-seeded teams on Saturday, November 7. The two winners along with the second-seeded team will head to the location of the top-seeded school to begin semi-final action on Thursday, November 12 with the title game set for the 14th.

Tournament Champion: Jacksonville

* - Unanimous Selection

Preseason Player of the Year: Miguel DaSilva, Forward - Lipscomb