Eagles Picked to Finish Second in SAC Preseason Poll

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The Carson-Newman men's soccer team is picked to finish second in the South Atlantic Conference in a vote of the league coaches, the conference office announced Tuesday.

The Eagles, which went 11-5-2 last season and shared the regular season conference championship with Tusculum, received one first-place vote and 70 points.

Tusculum is the choice to win the 2009 SAC championship. The Pioneers, which won the Food Lion SAC Tournament title and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament last season, received six first-place votes and 78 total points.

Lincoln Memorial received one first-place vote and is third in the preseason poll with 60 points.

Wingate University is close behind with 59 total points. The Bulldogs also received one first-place vote.

Lenoir-Rhyne is the pick to finish fifth with 37 points, while Newberry (35 points), Mars Hill (34), Catawba (21) and Brevard (11) round out the poll.

The Eagles open the season on Aug. 27 at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N.C.

The 2009 Food Lion SAC Men's Soccer Tournament will culminate with the semifinals at the Manchester Meadows soccer stadium in Rock Hill, S.C., Friday, Nov. 6, with the finals on Sunday, Nov. 8.

2009 SAC MEN'S SOCCER COACHES POLL
1. Tusculum (6) 78
2. Carson-Newman (1) 70
3. Lincoln Memorial (1) 60
4. Wingate (1) 59
5. Lenoir-Rhyne 37
6. Newberry 35
7. Mars Hill 34
8. Catawba 21
9. Brevard 11
(First place votes in parenthesis)