ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Daniel Webster College has been tabbed as the season favorite to capture the New England Collegiate Conference men’s soccer championship, it was announced today by Commissioner Del Malloy. Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the NECC’s head men’s soccer coaches.
Eight of the nine NECC members sponsor men’s soccer.
The Daniel Webster Eagles (12-6-1, 6-1 NECC) received five of the eight first-place votes in the 2010 NECC preseason poll. Head coach Bill Lawler returns 12 players seven of which should start in the 2010 campaign. The Eagles came off their best season in program history taking the 2009 NECC Men’s Soccer title.
The Eagles will be led by tournament MVP senior Samson Kiberu (Waltham, Mass.) along with All NECC members junior Spencer Bernard (Windsor Locks, Conn.), junior Alex Jackson (Kent, Ohio) and senior keeper Joe Keene (Bristol, N.H.).
Lesley University received 50 points to narrowly miss the top spot. The Lynx also notched two first place votes. Southern Vermont College had 34 points for the third spot, while Mitchell College earned 32 points for fourth place. Becker College rounded out the top five with 30 points.
Teams received eight points for every first place vote received, seven points for second place votes, six points for third place votes, down to one point for a last place vote. First place votes are shown in parentheses.
2010 NECC PRESEASON MEN’S SOCCER POLL
TEAM, POINTS (1st Place votes)
Daniel Webster, 52 (5)
Lesley, 50 (2)
Southern Vermont, 34
Mitchell, 32
Becker, 30
Newbury, 25
Elms, 19
Wheelock, 10