ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Lesley University was picked to finish third in the New England Collegiate Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Poll following a vote from the conference head coaches. The Lynx are coming off a year in 2014 that was capped in the ECAC Semifinals following a trip to the NECC Semifinals in the conference tournament.
The Lynx are returning a strong core to the pitch in 2015, including top goal scorers Erik Johansen (West Harrison, N.Y.) and Ryan Richardson (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and keeper Chase Donley (Elizabethtown, Pa.).
Daniel Webster was selected by the coaches to defend their NECC Title. The Eagles gathered six of the nine possible first place votes and 76 points overall. Experience is on the side of the Eagles' fifth year head coach Matt Correia as he returns eight of his starters.
Elms College received two first place votes and a total of 68 points overall. Elms looks to avenge a stunning loss in the championship game last season to Daniel Webster as they return 10 of their starters.The third-slotted Lynx are followed closely by the fourth slotted Regis College with 55 points. Newbury College ranked fifth and received the final first place vote, which was good for 47 points.
Mitchell College and Southern Vermont College finished in sixth and seventh respectively with 41 and 27 points.
The Lynx open their 2015 campaign on Tuesday, September 1st when they hit the road to Eastern Nazarene College a 4:30p.
2015 NECC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Daniel Webster - 76 (6)
- Elms - 68 (2)
- Lesley - 61
- Regis - 55
- Newbury - 47 (1)
- Mitchell- 41
- Southern Vermont - 27
- Becker - 20
- Wheelock - 10
Portions of this release courtesy NECC Media Relations