WINTER PARK, Fla. – Barry University men’s soccer team has been tabbed second in the Sunshine State Conference preseason poll.
Lynn has been selected as the preseason favorite to repeat as Sunshine State Conference men’s soccer champions in 2012.
The Fighting Knights collected 192 points in a preseason poll conducted among SSC head coaches and sports information directors. Lynn received 16 first-place votes, the highest total possible since each school’s voters do not rank their own squad.
Barry, which tied for fourth in the 2011 league standings, was selected to place second. The Buccaneers gathered 158 points to narrowly edge Rollins, which was slated to finish third with 157 points. The Tars, who ranked third in last fall’s standings, also received the two remaining first-place votes.
Florida Tech was tabbed to finish fourth with 120 points. Tampa appeared in the fifth spot with 100 points. Saint Leo was predicted to finish sixth, collecting 94 points.
Eckerd (73), Nova Southeastern (41), and Florida Southern (37) rounded out the preseason poll.
Barry returns six starters from the 2011 squad that posted a 12-3-6 overall record and played in the NCAA Division II South Regional final. The Buccaneers compiled a 3-2-3 record in SSC matches.
Among the Barry returning players is a trio of All-SSC honorees from a year ago and are led by a pair of All-Americans in Guilherme Oliveira and Johnny Rodrigues
Oliveira, a midfielder was an all-conference first-team selection in 2011.
Goalkeeper Johnny Rodriuges was also an All-SSC first-teamer, posting a 0.90 goals against average. He recorded 12 wins, including 6 shutouts.
Joong Kim received second-team all-conference honors and defender Joe Conkleton was selected to the Daktronics All-South Region second-team last fall.
The Buccaneers were tabbed No. 12 in the DII preseason poll released earlier this month by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
2012 SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE PRESEASON MEN’S SOCCER POLL
Rank – Team, Points (1st Place Votes)
1 – Lynn, 192 (16)
2 – Barry, 158
3 – Rollins, 157 (2)
4 – Florida Tech, 120
5 – Tampa, 100
6 – Saint Leo, 94
7 – Eckerd, 73
8 – Nova Southeastern, 41
9 – Florida Southern, 37