Warriors Picked Third in Men's Soccer Poll
DeSales, Drew Occupy Top Spots in Preseason Survey

ANNVILLE, Pa. --- After finishing one spot out of the title game a season ago, Lycoming men’s soccer starts the 2006 campaign predicted to finish third for a second straight season in the Freedom Conference’s annual preseason coaches poll.  The Warriors ended the 2005 season with a 14-6 overall mark.

DeSales University, last season’s conference champion, and Drew University occupy the top two spots, respectively.  DeSales finished the season with a 15-3-2 mark while Drew went 13-5-3.

Lycoming’s experienced squad made a strong run into the playoffs last season, winning seven of its final nine regular season contests.  Scoring carried the Warriors into a first round of the postseason tournament, notching 37 goals during that stretch before falling to the Rangers 3-0 in New Jersey.

In an effort to reach the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season, the Warriors must replace nine graduated players, including several starters.  The options to do so are plentiful with 15 new student-athletes donning the blue and gold.

The Warriors will rely on captains Dan Jackson, Eric Stickel, and Zach Tanner to lay the groundwork for the upcoming campaign.  The trio has the full confidence of the head coach Scott Kennell.

“Each of our captains has been to the playoffs on twice, playing in a title game only two seasons ago,” mentioned Kennell.  “With a little time for everyone to come together, I think this team will equal last season’s accomplishments and hopefully make it back to the conference championship game.”

Listed below is the full Freedom Conference men’s soccer preseason poll.  For more information on the conference and its affiliates, please visit the league’s website at www.lvc.edu/mac.

Freedom Conference Pre-season Men’s Soccer Poll
(#) – denotes first place votes
1. DeSales                    47 pts. (5)
2. Drew                         44 pts. (3)
3. Lycoming                  32 pts.
4. Wilkes                      30 pts.
5. Scranton                   29 pts.
6. King’s                       17 pts.
7. FDU-Florham             15 pts.
8. Delaware Valley           8 pts.