WHITINGHAM, Vermont — Husson University and Thomas College of Waterville share the top spot in the 2015 North Atlantic Conference men’s soccer preseason coaches’ poll announced Wednesday morning.
The Eagles and the Terriers received 91 points, but Husson — the reigning NAC Tournament champion — earned six first-place votes compared to three for Thomas.
Husson is coming off a berth in the 2014 NCAA Division III national tournament and will look to returning seniors Stephen Berenyi and Phil Frost to lead the 2015 squad. Berenyi, the 2014 NAC Tournament MVP, scored six goals and recorded six assists last season while Frost led the Eagles in scoring with 11 goals and 28 total points and was named first-team All-NAC as well as to the NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division III Men’s All-New England Region Fourth Team.
Nic Pare returns for his junior season and will spearhead a defensive unit that only allowed 1.5 goals per game last season. Berenyi and Pare were 2014 second team All-NAC members.
Josh Bean returns for his junior season after leading the Eagles in assists in 2014, while Jimmy Fitzpatrick, the 2013 NAC Rookie of the Year, returns after missing last season because of injury.
Husson has posted an impressive 36-7-3 record against NAC opponents (including playoffs) during the last four seasons and captured two NAC Tournament Championships (2011, 2014) and one regular-season title (2011).
The Eagles travel to Suffolk (Massachusetts) on Sept. 1 for their season opener.
Colby-Sawyer (New Hampshire) was selected third in the preseason poll after claiming 80 points and the final first-place vote, while New England College (64 points), Maine Maritime of Castine (62) and Castleton of Vermont (60) took fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, only two points apart.
Rounding out the poll was the University of Maine at Farmington (33 points), Johnson State (Vermont) in eighth (32 points), Lyndon State (Vermont) in ninth (27 points), and Green Mountain (Vermont) in 10th (10 points).
The University of Maine at Farmington will rely on a strong senior class in 2015, under third-year head coach Tommy DiNuzzo.
“We are excited for the new year and are looking forward to this season,” he said.
Opponents will have to get by the large 6-foot-5-inch frame of senior Uriah Forest-Bulley, who will look to anchor the Beavers defense. Henry Ametti will defend alongside Forest-Bulley with players including Austin Dooley and Zach Sathasivam leading the forward attack.
UMF will open its season Sept. 9 at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.