Aug. 26, 2002

2002 America East Preseason Poll

Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook men's soccer team was selected to finish fifth in the America East Conference preseason poll, the conference announced Monday. Boston University, which captured the regular season crown last season, was selected to repeat as conference champions with seven of nine first-place votes and 78 points overall. The University of Hartford, which received two first-place votes, was picked second with 73 points in balloting by the conference's head coaches.

Northeastern University, which advanced to the America East Championship game last season, was selected third (62 points), while the University of New Hampshire was placed fourth (41 points). A total of just four points separated UNH from fifth-place Stony Brook (39 points), the University at Albany (No. 6, 38 points) and the University of Vermont (No. 7, 37 points). America East newcomer Binghamton University (No. 8, 21 points) and the University of Maine (No. 9, 16 points) rounded out the poll.

The top four teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship with the winner of the tournament receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA College Cup.

Stony Brook, which finished 6-9-2 overall and 3-7-1 in conference action last fall, welcomes 17 newcomers as the Seawolves prepare for their second season in the conference. Head coach Scott Dean will look to junior captain Dan Ferrin to help lead the young squad. Ferrin was 6-5-2 with a 1.70 goals-against average in 2001.

The Seawolves open their season this weekend as they face 24th-ranked University of San Diego at the UC-Irvine Invitational.

2002 Preseason Poll 1. Boston University (7) 78 2. Hartford (2) 73 3. Northeastern 62 4. New Hampshire 41 5. Stony Brook 39 6. Albany 38 7. Vermont 37 8. Binghamton 21 9. Maine 16