AMCC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll

2009 MEN'S SOCCER
PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

MEDAILLE EXPECTED TO DEFEND
AMCC MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

Defending champion Medaille College has been picked to win their fourth men's soccer title in five years, as voted by the coaches of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. Penn St. Behrend, the 2007 conference champions who hold four titles overall, were ranked #2. Frostburg State University, three-time AMCC champions, was expected to finish third.

Preseason Player of the Year honors were again awarded to Medaille midfielder Gary Boughton (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster), last season's Player of the Year and a three-time, first team all-conference selection. The senior captain was also an NSCAA Regional All-American and Scholar All-American. He led NCAA Division III in assists per game, finishing with 20.

This season the conference welcomes D'Youville College to its ranks; the Spartans were previously members of the North Eastern Athletic Conference. The AMCC kicks off conference play on Saturday, September 19, and the championship will be Saturday, November 7, hosted by the number #1 seed. The winner will receive the AMCC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

AMCC MEN'S SOCCER POLL
2009 Preseason Rankings*

1. Medaille (1)
2. Penn State Behrend (2)
3. Frostburg State (2)
4. Penn State Altoona (4)
5. La Roche (5)
6. Franciscan (7)
7. Pitt-Greensburg (9)
8. Hilbert (9)
9. Pitt-Bradford (8)
10. D'Youville (N/A)
11. Mount Aloysius (10)

* Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in 2008

Preseason Player of the Year
GARY BOUGHTON, MEDAILLE COLLEGE

D'YOUVILLE COLLEGE Head Coach Matt McCormick (3rd year) 2008: 1-16 overall
Junior M Ted Maul (Machias, NY/Pioneer)...Team MVP in 2008...started all 17 games and played the forward and midfield positions..tallied 2 goals and 2 assists. Sophomore D Julian Boaitey (Essex, England/Palmer's College)...Expected to lead a young defensive squad.
FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY Head Coach Ward Rogers (1st year) 2008: 4-5 AMCC, 9-8-1 overall
Junior F Steve Duran (Chantilly, VA/Seton)...First Team All-Conference in 2008...scored 6 goals and 5 assists...also earned Academic All-Conference honors. Senior GK William Herrmann (Wintersville, OH/Catholic Central)... Made 79 saves and allowed 37 goals in 17 games played...recorded 8 wins and 3 shutouts.
FROSTBURG STATE UNIVERSITY Head Coach Keith Byrnes (7th year) 2008: 7-1-1 AMCC, 14-5-1 overall
Senior D Sean Jones (Pasadena, MD/Severna Park)...First team all-conference defender last season...led the Bobcats is assists with 7...added 9 goals for 25 points. Senior D Greg Bistany (Greenbelt, MD/St. John's)...2008 All-AMCC second team...scored 2 goals and 2 assists as the team's center back.
HILBERT COLLEGE Head Coach Tim Kronenwetter (3rd year) 2008: 2-7 AMCC, 5-12 overall
Senior F David Cunningham (Cheektowaga, NY/Maryvale)...Contributed 2 goals and 3 assists in 2008. Senior D Greg Lake (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West)...Helped the team defensively by solidifying the last defender back for the Hawks.
LA ROCHE COLLEGE Head Coach TBA (1st year) 2008: 5-4 AMCC, 11-9-1 overall
Senior F Rueben Jolo (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin)...Redhawks' leading scorer last season with 13 goals, 7 assists and 33 points...first team All-AMCC in 2007 and 2008.
MEDAILLE COLLEGE Head Coach Dan Krzyzanowicz (8th Year) 2008: 8-0-1 AMCC, 13-6-2 overall
Senior M Kendell McFayden (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville North)...NSCAA Regional All-American for second straight year...AMCC first team all-conference. Senior D Josh Meier (South Wales, NY/Holland)...Second team all-conference in 2008.
MOUNT ALOYSIUS COLLEGE Head Coach Brad Griesheimer (2nd Year) 2008: 0-9 AMCC, 0-12 overall
Junior M Mitchell Ott (Hollsopple, PA/Johnstown Christian)...Started every game for the Mounties last season...led the team in goals scored in 2008...posted a .750 shots on goal shooting percentage. Junior D Phil Petak (Johnstown, PA/Bishop McCort)...Stated every game for the Mounties last season...team's top returning defender.
PENN STATE ALTOONA Head Coach John Parente (8th year) 2008: 5-3-1 AMCC, 5-10-4 overall
Senior M Rich Hopewell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley)... Team captain...led midfield last season with 3 goals and 1 assist. Junior D Dane Kelsey (Muncy, PA/Muncy)...Expected to anchor the Lions' defense in 2009.
PENN STATE BEHREND Head Coach Dan Perritano (17th year) 2008: 7-1-1 AMCC, 12-8-1 overall
Senior GK Dustin Walker (Apollo, PA/Kiski)...First team All-AMCC in 2007 and 2008...recorded 9 shutouts last season...team captain. Senior M Josh Teti (McKeesport, PA/Elizabeth Forward)...Started 21 games as a sophomore...second team all-conference selection.
PITT-BRADFORD Head Coach Darek Panol (3rd year) 2008: 3-6 AMCC, 4-13-1 overall
Sophomore F Toby Abdul-Razaq (Glenside, PA/Abington)...Team MVP for the Panthers as a freshman last season...AMCC Co-Newcomer of the Year...scored 7 goals and 5 assists for 19 points. Junior D Kyle Lewis (North East, PA/North East)...Started all 18 games in 2008...team captain.
PITT-GREENSBURG Head Coach Ted Wawrzyniak (11th year) 2008: 1-7 AMCC, 4-10 overall
Senior D Mike Kandrak (Monongahela, PA/Ringgold)...Team co-captain for 2008...scored 2 goals last season. Junior D Jake Wehar (Beaver Falls, PA/Blackhawk)...Scored twice in 2008...also a co-captain.