Lincoln Memorial Picked To Win 2007 Men’s Soccer Title

ROCK HILL, SC - Lincoln Memorial University, which advanced to the NCAA Division II men's soccer semifinals last season, is the favorite to win the 2007 South Atlantic Conference championship in a vote of the league coaches, the conference office announced today.

Lincoln Memorial received five first-place votes and 61 total points. The Railsplitters were 15-2-3 overall last season, but were not eligible for the conference championship.

Lincoln Memorial returns nine starters off last year's team which made a run at the national title, including five who were named to the preseason All-Conference team, which was also announced. Goalkeeper Brent Cole was named to the first team.

Lenoir-Rhyne College picked up the other three first-place votes and finished second in the poll with 56 points. The Bears went 19-1-1 last year, winning the Food Lion SAC Tournament championship before ending their season in the Appalachian Region finals with a 1-1 tie against Lincoln Memorial. LMU advanced to the quarterfinals by penalty kicks.

The Bears placed five on the preseason All-Conference squad, including forward Luis Carrizosa and midfielders Aaron Wheeler and Matthew Lee on the first team. Wheeler had nine goals last year for the Bears, while Carrizosa had four goals and four assists.

The Carson-Newman Eagles, who have won the regular season crown for the past four years, were picked to finish third with 49 total points.

The Eagles put three on the preseason All-Conference team, with all making the first team. Forward Omar Cooke was ninth in the league in total scoring last year with eight goals and six assists. Also making the first team for the Eagle are defenders Thomas Ostvold and Everardo Flores.

Catawba College is picked to finish fourth in the standings. The Indians received 35 points.

Catawba placed three on the preseason All-Conference team with midfielder Ryan Villiard landing on the first team. Villiard ranked sixth in the league in assists per match last year.

Wingate University received 28 points for fifth place in the poll. The Bulldogs placed two on the preseason All-Conference squad, with defender and ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Kerrin SheldonKerrin Sheldon on the first team.

Tusculum College, which is fielding a men's soccer team after a one-year hiatus, is picked to finish sixth. The Pioneers received 25 points. Midfielder Gareth Williams was a second team preseason All-Conference selection.

Newberry College garnered 23 points to come in at seventh. The Indians are coming off a third-place finish in the league last season and placed four on the preseason All-Conference team. Forward Debola Ogunseye, who was third in the league in scoring last season with 16 goals, was one of three Indians on the first team. Midfielder Edsel Rudder and defender Jeff Bell also made the preseason first team.

Mars Hill rounds out the preseason coaches poll. Forward Daniel Waymont, a two-time SAC Scholar Athlete, was named to the preseason All-Conference first team and one of three Lions named to the squad.

The 2007 season opens Thursday, Aug. 23 with three matches. Newberry hosts Anderson and Mars Hill hosts Erskine. SAC provisional member Brevard opens its season at home against Pfeiffer.

The 2007 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. 2, with the finals on Sunday, Nov. 4.

2007 SAC MEN'S SOCCER COACHES POLL

Pl School Pts.
1. Lincoln Memorial (5) 61
2. Lenoir-Rhyne (3) 56
3. Carson-Newman 49
4. Catawba 35
5. Wingate 28
6. Tusculum 25
7. Newberry 23
8. Mars Hill 11
(First place votes in parenthesis)

2007 PRESEASON ALL-SAC

FIRST TEAM
F - Omar Cooke, Carson-Newman
F - Luis Carrizosa, Lenoir-Rhyne
F - Debola Ogunseye, Newberry
F - Daniel Waymont, Mars Hill
MF - Ryan Villiard, Catawba
MF - Aaron Wheeler, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF - Edsel Rudder, Newberry
MF - Matthew Lee, Lenoir-Rhyne
D - Thomas Ostvold, Carson-Newman
D - Everardo Flores, Carson-Newman
D - Jeff Bell, Newberry
D - Kerrin Sheldon, Wingate
GK - Brent Cole, Lincoln Memorial

SECOND TEAM
F - Amar Brkic, Lenoir-Rhyne
F - Andrew Landry, Catawba
F - Leandro Pereira, Lincoln Memorial
F - Junior Nyemb, Wingate
MF - Gary Higgins, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF - Leonardo de Barros, Lincoln Memorial
MF - Gareth Williams, Tusculum
MF - Claudio Rico, Lincoln Memorial
D - Felipe Nogueira, Lincoln Memorial
D - Matt Halton, Catawba
D - Rondon Bacchus, Mars Hill
D - Kyle Rudder, Newberry
GK - Josiah Larson, Mars Hill