2011 Little East Conference Men's Soccer Coaches' Pre-Season Poll released

official release from the desk of Jack Holleran - LEC Director of Communications

NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA (Aug. 18) —Eastern Connecticut State University edged Keene State College by a single point to sit atop the 2011 Little East men’s soccer preseason coaches’ poll after a vote by each of the eight head coaches. The Warriors are no strangers to the top ranking in the annual preseason survey, earning at least a share of the No. 1 position in each of the past four seasons.

Eastern Connecticut secured the top billing in the 16th annual preseason poll based on the strength of six votes within the top-two rankings, including a trio of first place ballots, to earn 56 points. The Owls also received three first place nods, but were unable to catch the Warriors because of four third place projections to total 55 points. Rhode Island College will also be a factor in the chase for the regular season title, earning a first place selection and 52 total points. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth tallied the remaining first place vote and completed the top-half of the eight-team preseason survey with 42 points.

Under the watchful eye of Greg DeVito, Eastern Connecticut made its third appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament in the past four seasons in 2010 when the Warriors earned an at-large berth. The 2010 edition became the first squad in program history to record a national tournament victory, shutting out Nichols College 1-0. The Warriors nearly upset then-No. 6 Bowdoin College in the second round, but fell to the eventual national semifinalists 2-1. DeVito led his charges to the program’s fourth consecutive season with at least 11 victories when Eastern Connecticut posted a 14-4-3 overall record. The Warriors opened the campaign with a six-match unbeaten streak (5-0-1) to rise to No. 12 in the National Soccer Coaches’ Association (NSCAA) Division III Top-25 poll for Sept. 21, 2010 rankings.

Eastern Connecticut will begin its quest for its third Little East regular-season crown by welcoming back 19 student-athletes from the 2010 squad, including 11 starters. The Warriors will feature a heralded roster, including six 2010 All-Little East selections. Senior Carl Appel (West Windsor, N.J.), boasting a career record of 41-12-6 (.746) with 20 shutouts, is set to backstop Eastern Connecticut for the fourth straight season. The 2010 NSCAA All-New England, second-team pick sat atop the conference standings in goals against average (0.72), save percentage (.877), and shutouts (8). The Warriors open their 2011 schedule at 2 p.m. on Sept. 3 against Clarkson University at the Lotto Classic in Canton, N.Y. 

Keene State made its 10th overall NCAA Division III Tournament appearance and first since 2007 after capturing the Little East Men’s Soccer Championship last fall. Dr. Ron Butcher guided his Owls to the program’s sixth conference crown by defeating Rhode Island College 1-0 in the finale. In 2010, Keene State posted the program’s 13th season with at least 12 victories since joining Division III in 1997 by sporting a mark of 14-4-2. The Owls boasted an undefeated Little East record (6-0-1) to earn the program’s seventh regular-season title and secure home-field advantage with the top seed in the conference tournament. Keene State scored a pair of markers within the first 11 minutes of the semifinal match against the Corsairs to advance to the championship round, the program’s eighth overall appearance in the past 13-year history of the tournament.
 
In 2011, Keene State will begin its chase for its eighth regular season title by bringing nine starters and a total of 15 student-athletes back into the fold from last season. The Owls will showcase a powerful offensive attack with the return of their three top scorers. Junior striker Joe Senecal (Manchaug, Mass.) will pace the offensive attack after scoring 20 points on nine goals and a pair of helpers in just 17 matches as a sophomore. Senecal netted his fourth game-winner of the campaign with 97 seconds remaining in the Little East championship match against the Anchormen. Keene State will take to the pitch at 3 p.m. on Sept. 3 when the Owls host The College of New Jersey.    

Under the leadership of John Mello, Rhode Island College will be in the hunt for the program’s first conference regular season crown after placing second three times, most recently in 2008. The Anchormen registered an overall record of 10-7-2 and reached the Little East championship match as the No. 3 seed. Rhode Island College will return a veteran-laden squad that includes eight starters and a total of 12 letterwinners. The senior trio of Hector Espildora Fortuno (Malaga, Spain), Mike Patriarca (Warren, R.I.), and Bruno Costa (Pawtucket, R.I.) combined for 56.8 percent of the team’s goals last season. The Anchormen will square off against Norwich University at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 3 in the opening round of the Roger Williams Invitational in Bristol, R.I.

The top-four teams in the final regular season standings advance to the 2011 Little East Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament with the top-two teams hosting semifinal round action on Nov. 2. The two semifinal winners will meet at the highest remaining seed on Nov. 5 in the championship match. The conference champion will earn the automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Completing the annual preseason coaches’ survey in projected order of finish in the regular season standings are Plymouth State University (27), University of Massachusetts Boston (25), University of Southern Maine (18), and Western Connecticut State University (13).

Initially formed in 1986 as a six-team men's and women's basketball conference, the Little East Conference will begin its 26th season of sponsoring intercollegiate athletic programs in 2011-2012. Western Connecticut State University joined the conference in 1993-1994, while Keene State College raised its current membership to eight teams in 1997-1998.