August 21, 2009

BRYANT MEN'S SOCCER TABBED ELEVENTH IN NEC PRESEASON POLL

SMITHFIELD, RI- Bryant University men's soccer looks to rebound in 2009 after a tough inaugural season at the Division I level, as the Bulldogs enter the season slated to finish eleventh in the Northeast Conference following the announcement of the preseason coaches' poll on Thursday afternoon.

Seamus Purcell enters his 14th season as head coach and will look to the program's youth to provide the offensive spark the Bulldogs were lacking in 2008. Purcell was busy in the offseason recruiting 11 newcomers to add to Bryant's core of returning players.

Sophomore midfielder/forward Ben Mello (Rehoboth, Mass.) will be called upon to generate scoring opportunities up front after leading the Bulldogs in goals as a freshman. Sophomore Andrew Snell (South Salem, N.Y.) resumes his duties between the pipes after leading the team with a 2.68 goals against average.

Four-time regular season champion Monmouth took first place in the voting with Farleigh Dickinson, Quinnipiac, St. Francis (NY) and Mount St. Mary's rounding out the top five. Central Connecticut and Sacred Heart were voted sixth and seventh, just ahead of a two-way tie for eighth between Long Island and Saint Francis (PA). Robert Morris and Bryant close out the poll, respectively.

The Bulldogs host 10 home games this season and open their 2009 campaign on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 3:00 p.m. when they welcome the University of Hartford.