Husson picked third in NAC women’s soccer poll
Castleton University has been tabbed as the favorite to win the 2015 North Atlantic Conference
women’s soccer championship after receiving six first-place votes and a total of 96 points in the NAC preseason poll.
Colby-Sawyer College, the 2014 champion, was selected second with 93 points. Husson University and New England College tied for third place after receiving 73 points apiece, while the University of Maine at Farmington placed fifth with 61 points.
Rounding out the poll was Maine Maritime Academy (43), Johnson State College (40), Thomas College (33), Lyndon State College (23), and Green Mountain College (15).
Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the league’s head women’s soccer coaches.
The season kicks off next week with nine teams in action.
Coaches plan to dock aid for player violations
Grant-in-aid payments to college athletes could be used as a tool in curbing off-field issues, Cincinnati football coach Tommy Tuberville said Thursday.
One day after Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster made a similar suggestion, Tuberville said he has the support of the Bearcats’ athletic department to use a fine system as a “tool, not a punishment” to correct off-field behavior and other problems within the program, even including individual effort.
Cincinnati senior associate athletic director Maggie McKinley said clear and complete policies are being drafted before the system is enacted.
McKinley said Cincinnati players receive $5,504 to $7,018 per year in cost of attendance dollars, one of the highest in the country.
Cincinnati athletic director Mike Bohn told ESPN he supported the move.
Manziel out for rest of preseason
Quarterback Johnny Manziel has no structural damage in his sore right elbow, but he will sit out the Cleveland Browns’ third preseason game on Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their exhibition finale against the Chicago Bears.
Head coach Mike Pettine said the Browns didn’t want to risk aggravating the elbow by playing Manziel in either game. Their preseason schedule ends next Thursday against the Bears.
Manziel, beginning his second season in Cleveland, was scheduled to play against the Buccaneers’ starters in the second quarter on Saturday night and for a half against the Bears next week.
Steelers WR Bryant faces four-game suspension
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant is facing a four-game suspension.
The punishment is for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday. Bryant is appealing, Schefter reported.
The Steelers already will be without running back Le’Veon Bell (suspension) for the first two games and center Maurkice Pouncey (broken fibula) for probably half the season at least.
They also lost backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski for the season with a hand injury, which prompted them to sign controversial Michael Vick to back up Ben Roethlisberger.