ACC

Clemson favored to repeat ACC champion Clemson is the favorite for the upcoming 1999 ACC men’s soccer season. The Tigers collected 40 points in a vote of the league’s seven head coaches, barely edging out Maryland, which finished second with 38 points. The Terrapins, which advanced to the NCAA semifinals last season, finished with a 16-8-0 overall record in 1998. Virginia was picked to finish third with 35 points, and was one of three ACC teams to advance to at least the NCAA quarterfinals last season. Completing the preseason poll in order of finish is ACC tournament finalist Duke (27), Wake Forest (24), North Carolina (23) and NC State (9). ACC schools have won eight national championships in the last 15 years. This year, the ACC enters the 1999 season with three teams ranked in the top six of the Soccer America preseason poll: Maryland (No. 3), Clemson (No. 5) and Virginia (No. 6).

America East

Terriers are favored Boston University garnered eight of 10 first-place votes in preseason balloting by America East coaches. The Terriers had 96 points to beat out defending champion Drexel. Preseason poll: 1. Boston Univ. 96 (8) 2. Drexel 78 (1) 3. Towson 75 4. Hofstra 72 (1) 5. Hartford 63 6. Vermont 53 7. New Hampshire 44 8. Maine 28 9. Delaware 22 10. Northeastern 19 (First-place votes in parentheses.)

Atlantic 10

Flyers go for third in a row Dayton is pick to win the Atlantic-10 title. The Flyers have won the conference title in Jim Launder’s first two years at the Ohio school. It hosts the A-10 conference tournament Nov. 5-7. Preseason poll: 1. Dayton 2. Rhode Island 3. Virginia Tech 4. Xavier 5. Massachusetts 6. Fordham 7. George Washington 8. St. Bonaventure 9. Temple 10. Duquesne 11. La Salle 12. St. JosephÆs

Big East

St. JohnÆs favored again For the fourth consecutive year, St. John’s has been chosen as the preseason favorite to win the Big East menÆs soccer regular-season title by a vote of the leagueÆs 12 head coaches. Last season, the Red Storm posted a 16-5-3 record and went 8-2-1 in conference play to finish second in the regular-season race. SJU won its fifth conference tournament title and qualified for its sixth straight NCAA tournament, advancing to the quarterfinals. St. John’s, under the direction of ninth-year head coach Dave Masur, earned 118 points and eight of the possible 11 first-place votes in the Big East poll. Finishing second in the voting with 114 points and three first-place votes was Connecticut. The Huskies won the 1998 Big East regular-season title with a 9-2 conference mark. The Huskies, ranked No. 1 midway through last season, finished with a 17-4 record after earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship. UConn welcomes back a host of starters, including sophomore Chris Gbandi, the Æ99 Big East Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Gbandi was the ’98 Rookie of the Year who helped the Husky defense to a conference-best 11 shutouts. Rutgers earned 93 points to finish third in the preseason picks. The Scarlet Knights, under the guidance of 19th-year head coach Bob Reasso, were 12-7-2 overall and 8-3 in league play a year ago. RU boasts the league’s Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year, Jonathan Conway. The senior was the coaches’ pick as the ’98 Goalkeeper of the Year after playing every minute of the season and allowing 17 opponent goals in 11 conference games. Seton Hall senior forward Peter Scavo was selected as the 1999 Big East Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. He was a unanimous choice on the ’98 All-Big East first team after finishing second in league scoring with 19 points (7 goals, 5 assists). He returns to lead the Pirates who tied with Georgetown for fourth-place honors in this year’s preseason poll. The top eight teams based on regular-season record will qualify for Big East tournament. Preseason poll: 1. St. John’s (8) 2. Connecticut (4) 3. Rutgers 4. Georgetown 4. Seton Hall 6. Notre Dame 7. Syracuse 8. Providence 9. Boston College 10. West Virginia 11. Pittsburgh 12. Villanova (First-place votes in parentheses.) Big East preseason awards: Offensive Player of the Year: Peter Scavo, Sr., Seton Hall. Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Gbandi, So., Connecticut. Goalkeeper of the Year: Jonathan Conway, Sr., Rutgers. All-Big East team: Jonathan Conway, Rutgers, GK ; Patrice Bernier, So., F/M, Syracuse; Jim Curtin, Jr., B, Villanova; Chris Gbandi, So., B, Connecticut; Gabriel Gervais, Grad., F/M, Syracuse; Medufia Kulego, Sr., F, St. John’s; Dan Parkin, Sr., B, St. John’s; Brian Piesner, Sr., M, Rutgers; Brent Rahim, Jr., M, Connecticut; Peter Scavo, Sr., F, Seton Hall; Gregory Strohmann, So., M, Seton Hall.

Big South

Winthrop gets nod over Liberty Winthrop topped the Big South poll, garnering seven first-place votes. Liberty (four first-place votes) was chosen to finish second in the voting, which is conducted by the league’s head men’s soccer coaches and sports information directors. Chosen third was Coastal Carolina (two first-place votes) and fourth was last year’s regular-season champion Radford (two first-place votes). Charleston Southern was chosen fifth and High Point was sixth. UNC Asheville and Elon rounded out the selections, being picked to finish seventh and eighth positions, respectively. This is the first year both High Point and Elon are eligible to compete for the Big South championship. Both institutions become full Conference members this fall.

CAA

Spiders picked to repeat Richmond was picked to repeat as CAA champion. The Spiders will be led by senior forward Brent Cesare (Duxbury, Md.), who collected a 1998 conference-high 17 goals and 37 points. An All-CAA second-team pick, he earned CAA tournament MVP honors, leading the Spiders to their first CAA title and NCAA berth since 1990. UR has 10 returning starters, including first-team all-CAA members Peter Luzak (Media, Pa.) and Craig Ziadie (Kingston, Jamaica). Last yearÆs regular-season champion, VCU, garnered one first place vote and was picked second. The Rams will be paced by 1998 CAA Player of the Year Ricardo Capilla (Mexico City, Mexico) and All-CAA First Team member Kevin Jeffrey (Trin City, Trinidad). Led by preseason Soccer America All-America goalkeeper Adin Brown (Pleasant Hill, Calif.), William & Mary was selected to finish third in the league. 1. Richmond (7) 2. VCU (1) 3. William & Mary (1) 4. George Mason 5. James Madison 6. Old Dominion 7. American 8. East Carolina 9. UNC Wilmington Preseason All-CAA Team: Adin Brown, William & Mary SR GK; Niki Budalich, James Madison JR Midfielder; Ricardo Capilla, VCU SR Forward; Brent Cesare, Richmond SR Forward; Brian Hinkey, William & Mary SR Midfielder; Kevin Jeffrey, VCU SR Forward; Cam Letke, Richmond SO Forward; Eduardo Lima, George Mason SR; Peter Luzak, Richmond SR Defender; Jimmy Tanner, Old Dominion SR Forward; Craig Ziadie, Richmond JR Defender.

Conference USA

USF gets nod South Florida, the 1998 regular season co-champion and tournament champion, has been selected to win the 1999 Conference USA men’s soccer championship in a vote taken by the league’s nine head coaches. South Florida midfielder/forward Brian Waltrip has been selected as the 1999 C-USA preseason Player of the Year. South Florida, which has shared the last two regular-season titles and won two of the last three C-USA tournaments, is seeking a fourth consecutive NCAA berth with the help of eight returning starters, including Waltrip and preseason all-league players Kevin Alvero (Conference USA’s leading scorer last season) and Brian Alvero. Saint Louis was selected to finish second in C-USA. The Billikens shared the regular-season title with USF last season and have six starters returning along with a highly regarded recruiting class. SLU is represented on the preseason all-league team by forward Dominic DaPra and midfielder Jeff DiMaria. The host of the 1999 College Cup (formerly referred to as the NCAA final four), UNC Charlotte is listed third in the poll. The 49ers have been one of the nation’s most successful programs in the 1990s and this year will look to preseason all-conference midfielders Pablo Pinzon and C.J. Robinson to get back to the NCAA tournament after a one-year absence. UAB has been picked to finish fourth, followed by Cincinnati. UAB posted a 12-win season in 1998 and is represented on the preseason all-league team by high-scoring forward Peter Byaruhanga. Cincinnati is looking to build on the first NCAA appearance in school history. Two Bearcats are listed on the preseason all-C-USA team: defender Andrew Kean and goalkeeper Jake Witkowski. Marquette is picked to finish sixth, followed by Memphis. The Golden Eagles will look for improved scoring to move back up the conference ladder this fall. Memphis, which features preseason all-league forward Steven Brooks, hopes to build on a strong run in last year’s conference tournament, when the Tigers advanced to the championship game after a seventh-place finish. Rounding out the poll is Louisville in eighth place and DePaul ninth. Midfielder Shawn Faria represents U of L on the preseason all-league team. Preseason poll: 1. South Florida 2. Saint Louis 3. UNC Charlotte 4. UAB 5. Cincinnati 6. Marquette 7. Memphis 8. Louisville 9. DePaul Preseason awards: Player of the Year: Brian Waltrip, F/MF, South Florida Preseason All-Conference: Brian Alvero, MF/D, South Florida; Kevin Alvero, F, South Florida; Steven Brooks, F, Memphis; Peter Byaruhanga, F, UAB; Dominic DaPra, F, Saint Louis; Jeff DiMaria, MF, Saint Louis; Shawn Faria, MF, Louisville; Andrew Kean, D, Cincinnati; Pablo Pinzon, MF, UNC Charlotte; C.J. Robinson, MF, UNC Charlotte; Brian Waltrip, F/MF, South Florida; Jake Witkowski, GK, Cincinnati.

Mid-American Conference

Akron is unanimous choice Akron was a unanimous choice to win the Mid-American Conference men’s soccer title again in 1999 as the Zips received 64 points in the coaches poll. The Zips, who return two all-MAC first team selections from last year’s 17-3-1 team, won their fourth regular-season title in six years in 1998 and claimed their first MAC tournament title, a 4-1 decision over Bowling Green. Akron then fell to eventual national champion Indiana in the NCAA tournament, 3-2 in double overtime. Bowling Green is slated for second with 50 points after finishing fourth in the regular season a year ago and runner-up in the tournament, ending the school’s run of consecutive MAC tournament titles at three. The Falcons will attempt to make a run at their sixth straight tournament finals appearance, but will have to do it without first-team all-MAC goalie Scott Vallow, who led the league with 10 shutouts and was second with a 0.87 goals-against average. The third selection in the preseason poll is Kentucky, which had 45 points. The Wildcats return two of the league’s top defenders in first-team all-MAC choice Lee Baker and Ilkaa Jantti, the conference’s Newcomer of the Year in 1998. Northern Illinois, which finished third in the regular season in 1998, is fourth with 36 points, one point ahead of Buffalo. Buffalo, fifth with 35 points, returns Steve Butcher, the league’s top goal scorer (18) and point producer (43) last season. In their first season of competition with the MAC, the Bulls advanced to the semifinals of the league tournament, dropping a 3-2 decision in triple overtime to Akron. Marshall, which returns two of the MAC’s top nine scorers for the 1999 season, is tabbed for sixth with 31 points. Rounding out the rest of the preseason poll is Eastern Michigan at seventh (16) and Western Michigan eighth (11). Preseason poll: 1. Akron 64 (8) 2. Bowling Green 50 3. Kentucky 45 4. Northern Illinois 36 5. Buffalo 35 6. Marshall 31 7. Eastern Michigan 16 8. Western Michigan 11 (First-place votes in parentheses.)

MCC

Butler picked to repeat Butler, the reigning Midwestern Collegiate Conference regular-season and tournament champion, has been selected to finish first in the conference in a preseason poll of the league’s coaches. The Bulldogs lost to eventual national champion Indiana in double overtime in the second round of the NCAA tournament in 1998. They were tabbed as the team to beat on five ballots, totaling 46 points, while Wright State, last year’s MCC regular season and tournament runner-up, received the other three first-place votes, finishing second with 44 points. UIC was predicted to finish third with 34 points, three more than fourth-place Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Wisconsin-Green Bay was picked to finish in fifth place with 23 points, followed by Detroit Mercy with 19 points for sixth place. Cleveland State and Loyola (Ill.) rounded out the poll as they were tabbed by the coaches to finish in seventh and eighth, with 18 and 10 points, respectively.

Missouri Valley

Creighton edges SW Missouri The most dominant team in the history of Missouri Valley menÆs soccer has been picked by league coaches to win the title again in 1999. Creighton, which has just lost four league games in the history of the MVC, received six first-place votes and 61 total points to edge Southwest Missouri and Bradley in the preseason coaches poll. Creighton won the 1998 Missouri Valley tournament and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the seventh straight year. Southwest Missouri State, meanwhile, tied for fourth last season, but the Bears are picked second in the preseason poll, earning two first-place tallies. Bradley, the 1998 regular-season champion, is picked third in this yearÆs preseason poll, and the Braves received the remaining first-place tally. Evansville is picked fourth in the preseason poll, with 35 points, while Vanderbilt — with 32 points — is just behind the Purple Aces. Western Kentucky (23) is sixth, while Eastern Illinois and Drake are tied for seventh in the preseason predictions with 17 points each. Last season, Bradley won its first-ever title in menÆs soccer with a 6-1-0 conference record. The Braves had entered the 1998 campaign with only four conference wins in the previous seven years of league play. Coach Jim DeRose of Bradley earned Coach of the Year honors while guiding the Braves from a worst-to-first finish in 1998. Creighton, meanwhile, finished second during the regular season with a 4-1-2 conference mark, with the BluejaysÆ only loss coming to Bradley. Creighton, though, won the tournament title, defeating Southwest Missouri in the championship game, thus earning the leagueÆs automatic NCAA tournament berth. In the leagueÆs first eight seasons, Creighton has won five regular-season titles and owns six league tournament titles. The Bluejays post an impressive 36-4-4 all-time mark in regular-season Valley play. Preseason poll: 1. Creighton 61 (6) 2. Southwest Missouri 53 (1) 3. Bradley 50 (1) 4. Evansville 35 5. Vanderbilt 32 6. Western Kentucky 23 7. Drake 17 7. Eastern Illinois 17 (First-place votes in parentheses.)

Southern

Furman pick to regain title Furman, the 1998 Southern Conference regular-season co-champion, is picked to win the 1999 SoCon title in voting conducted by the league’s head coaches. UNC Greensboro, the team the Paladins tied with for last year’s regular-season title, is a close pick for second place. Furman received four first-place votes and a total of 68 points to earn the first-place nod. UNCG received three first-place votes and 65 points. College of Charleston is predicted to finish third and received 55 points and one first-place vote. There were eight votes cast as one coach abstained. Furman was 16-4-2 last year and 7-1-0 in Southern Conference play. The Paladins reached the SoCon Tournament championship game before falling to UNCG, 1-0. Furman returns three first-team all-SoCon selections from last season including Freshman of the Year Matt Goldsmith. Bermudan John Barry Nusum was the SoCon’s third-leading scorer in 1998 with 11 goals and 31 points. UNC Greensboro won the SoCon Tournament last year and defeated Washington in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before finishing the season with a 19-4-2 record. College of Charleston finished third in the æ98 regular season with a 6-2-0 record and reached the semifinals of the SoCon tournament. The 1999 Southern Conference Championship begins on Nov. 5 in Charleston. Preseason poll: 1. Furman 68 (4) 2. UNC Greensboro 65 (3) 3. College of Charleston 55 (1) 4. Georgia Southern 42 5. Davidson 40 6. Appalachian State 38 7. The Citadel 21 7. Wofford 21 9. VMI 10 (First-place votes in parentheses.)

TAAC

Dolphins picked to defend title Jacksonville is tabbed to win the Trans America Athletic Conference regular-season title and also to repeat as TAAC tournament champions in voting completed by TAAC head coaches. The Dolphins, advancing to the NCAA second round last season after defeating Duke (3-2) in the first round, posted a 19-5-0 mark. Among the returnees for JU is junior forward Nesa Stefanovic, who finished the 1998 season listed third nationally in points (65, 2.83 average), sixth in goals (26, 1.13 average) and 21st in assists (13, 0.57 average). Sophomore forward Bole Acimovic also returns for JU after finishing his freshman season listed ninth nationally in both goals (23, 0.93 average) and points (56, 2.33 average). Picked second in the TAAC preseason poll is Central Florida. The Golden Knights were defeated in last yearÆs title game by Jacksonville, 3-2 in overtime. UCF posted a 13-7-0 mark last season. Senior forward Heikki Ritvanen returns. He finished the 1998 season third in goals (24, 1.26 average) and fourth in points (52, 2.74 average). Also returning for UCF in 1999 is senior forward Ari Nurmi who was listed 20th in goals (17, 0.85 average) and 19th in points (40, 2.00 average) last season. Florida Atlantic is the coaches’ pick to finish third followed by Campbell and Stetson. Georgia State and Mercer complete the 1999 TAAC preseason poll. Preseason poll: Regular season: 1. Jacksonville 51 (4) 2. Central Florida 45 (2) 3. Florida Atlantic 31 4. Campbell 27 5. Stetson 24 (1) 6. Georgia State 13 7. Mercer 12 Tournament Champion: Jacksonville (First-place votes in parentheses.)