Aug. 9, 2005
Fairfax, Va.--George Mason University's men's soccer team was chosen seventh in the 2005 Colonial Athletic Association Coaches Preseason Poll according to a vote of the league's 12 head coaches.
Virginia Commonwealth, which returns seven starters from last year's 12-6-3 squad that reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Men's College Cup, received eight first-place votes and 117 total points to earn the top spot in the poll. Old Dominion, which welcomes back six starters from last season's 13-6-2 team that made its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, received two first-place votes and was picked second with 106 points. James Madison, which posted a 15-3-1 overall record in 2004 and has nine starters back, also got two first-place votes and was third with 105 points. Defending conference champion Hofstra was fourth in the poll with 88 points, followed by UNC Wilmington, William & Mary, George Mason, Towson, Drexel, league newcomers Georgia State and Northeastern, and Delaware.
Mason returns only four starters and 10 letterwinners from last season's squad and will add seven freshman, as well as one transfer to the 2005 roster. Senior Teba McKnight is a returning starter who led the Patriots in points (20) last season and was named to the 2004 All-CAA Second Team, as well as the All-Virginia Second Team. Sophomore Brian Barry-Austin is one of the letterwinners returning and also received recognition by the conference in 2004 as he represented Mason on the All-CAA Rookie Team.
Mason has 18 regular season games scheduled for 2005, including nine home games. Contained in this mix are six teams that were participants in the 2004 NCAA College Cup (Connecticut, George Washington, Penn State, VCU, Hofstra, ODU) and two new members of the Colonial Athletic Association in Northeastern and Georgia State.
The Patriots begin the 2005 campaign on the road at Liberty on Sept. 2, which is followed by Mason's home opener two days later against Philadelphia.
2005 CAA MEN'S SOCCER PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL
1. Virginia Commonwealth (8 first-place votes) 117
2. Old Dominion (2 first-place votes) 106
3. James Madison (2 first-place votes) 105
4. Hofstra 88
5. UNC Wilmington 79
6. William & Mary 74
7. George Mason 60
8. Towson 51
9. Drexel 37
10. Georgia State 27
Northeastern 27
12. Delaware 21
(Teams received 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 for second, etc. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.)
