Aug. 14, 2006
Fairfax, Va.--In Greg Andrulis' second year as head coach of Mason's men's soccer squad, the Patriots were chosen sixth in the 2006 Colonial Athletic Association Preseason Poll as announced by the league office. The voting was done by all 12 of the conference's head coaches.
Mason closed out the 2005 campaign with a 7-7-4 overall record and a 3-3-4 mark in the CAA, which placed them seventh at the end of the season. The Patriots lost the top two scorers from that team, along with the 2005 CAA Defender of the Year, Anthony Noreiga. The Patriots return six of the 11 starters from a year ago, 11 letterwinners and welcome 18 newcomers to the 2006 team.
Old Dominion was picked first after receiving eight first-place votes and 117 total points to earn the top spot in the poll. Hofstra, which has won the past two CAA championships, received two first-place votes and was picked second with 109 points. James Madison, which has nine starters back from its 2005 NCAA Tournament squad, got one first-place vote and was third with 97 points, while VCU also received a first-place vote and was fourth with 93 points. UNC Wilmington was picked fifth in the poll, followed by George Mason, Towson, William & Mary, Northeastern, Georgia State, Drexel and Delaware.
The CAA has traditionally been one of the top men's soccer conferences in the nation. The conference has placed three teams in the NCAA Tournament field six times in the past decade.
Mason will open up the 2006 season at home on Aug. 25 as the Patriots will face Monmouth at 7 p.m. at George Mason Stadium.
2006 CAA MEN'S SOCCER PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL
1. Old Dominion (8 first-place votes) 117
2. Hofstra (2 first-place votes) 109
3. James Madison (1 first-place vote) 97
4. VCU (1 first-place vote) 93
5. UNC Wilmington 78
6. George Mason 72
7. Towson 59
8. William & Mary 58
9. Northeastern 42
10. Georgia State 27
11. Drexel 22
12. Delaware 18
(Teams received 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 for second, etc. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.)
