Stevens Favored to Repeat as Empire 8 Men's Soccer Champions
August 12, 2008
ROCH
ESTER, NY – Stevens Institute of Technology is the unanimous choice of opposing coaches to capture its second Empire 8 men’s soccer title in as many years in the conference. The Ducks, who finished 7-0-0 in the regular season in leagueplay and won the postseason conference tournament, posted a 17-1-3 overall mark in 2007.
Junior forward Terrance Johnson earned first-team all-conference honors last year, finishing second in the league in goals and points, and was also named Most Valuable Player in the Empire 8 Men’s Soccer Championship. Senior midfielder Jeremy Lippel (five goals, 18 points) and sophomore goalie Zach Carr, who recorded 10 shutouts, each garnered first-team honors a year ago. Stevens has not lost in its last 49 conference games (Skyline and Empire 8 play) and enters the year with a 59-match unbeaten streak at home.
St. John Fisher College, which advanced to the title game of the conference championship last year after being picked seventh in the preseason poll, is the coaches’ selection to finish second this season. The Cardinals, who won 12 games last season after a three-win season in 2006, return Empire 8 Men’s Soccer Player of the Year Luke Lennox. The junior forward led the conference in goals (18) and points (43), while setting records with nine goals and 19 points in seven regular season conference matchups. Andrew McIntosh returns after earning Empire 8 Men’s Soccer Rookie of the Year honors in 2007.
Ithaca College, which lost only one regular season game in 33 conference contests entering last season, looks to return to the conference tournament and is the coaches’ choice to place third this year. Senior forward Kurt Odenbach was named the Empire 8 Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Year in 2006 and earned all-region accolades for the second consecutive time last season while leading the Bombers in scoring.
Nazareth College is the coaches’ choice to place fourth this season. The Golden Flyers return 2006 Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year and NCAA Division III Third Team All-American selection Mohammed Ahamed, who missed all last season with an injury. Junior midfielder Chris Lofgren earned first-team all-conference honors last season, and senior forward Justin Stevens led the team in scoring and earned second team honors.
Rochester Institute of Technology is picked fifth in the preseason coaches’ poll. Senior back Chris Somers is the league’s only player this season to be named to the Empire 8 all-conference first-team each of the past two years. The Tigers were one of five teams to finish over .500 overall last season.
Utica College, which qualified for the conference tournament for the first time last season, was selected to finish sixth in the coaches’ poll. The Pioneers must try to replace three-time first-team all-conference selection Evan Dufault.
Alfred University and Elmira College were picked to share seventh place in the coaches’ poll. The Saxons forced St. John Fisher into overtime in their final game last season. The Soaring Eagles posted a win over the Saxons and earned a late-season tie at RIT.
Last season, Stevens became the first top-seeded team since Ithaca in 2002 to win the conference tournament. The third or fourth seed had won or shared the Empire 8 title the previous four years.
Stevens is ranked 17th in the NSCAA/adidas Preseason Poll, which was released today. The D3Kicks.com poll is due out later this week.
2008 Empire 8 Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Stevens Institute of Technology 49 points
2. St. John Fisher College 38
3. Ithaca College 36
4. Nazareth College 31
5. Rochester Institute of Technology 26
6. Utica College 24
7. Alfred University 10
Elmira College 10