East Stroudsburg's Toric Robinson (left) and Slippery Rock's Jeremy Deighton (right).
Lock Haven, Pa. - Perennial contender East Stroudsburg edged out defending champion Millersville to take first place in the Eastern Division while Slippery Rock was picked to win the Western Division in the PSAC men’s soccer preseason poll. This will mark the second season of two divisions in the PSAC in the sport of men’s soccer, but the first with balanced divisions. Last year, there were six teams in the East and five in the West but Kutztown dropped men’s soccer over the spring, leaving five teams in each division.
East Stroudsburg received three first place votes while Millersville got the remaining two in the Eastern Division, which was the difference between first and second in the poll. West Chester followed in third place while Bloomsburg and Shippensburg rounded out the East.
Slippery Rock also received three of five first place votes in the West to take the top spot. The Rock was followed by defending PSAC tournament champion California in second place. Gannon and Mercyhurst tied for third place in the poll, with each receiving a first place vote, and Lock Haven rounded out the poll in fifth place.
The PSAC placed four teams in the NCAA tournament last year, which were the same four teams that qualified for the PSAC tournament. Millersville and East Stroudsburg, which finished 1-2 in the East, and Slippery Rock and California, which finished 1-2 in the West, all qualified, with Millersville advancing the farthest in the tournament, bowing out in the NCAA quarterfinals in penalty kicks.
This marks the third straight year that the Warriors have been picked to win their respective division. They were also the favorites last year and were the favorites in the 2007 preseason under the previous one-division form. East Stroudsburg, which was won 13 of the past 17 PSAC tournaments and appeared in 12 NCAA tournaments during that time period, will have to weather the loss of its top three scorers in Roshane Ellison, Kevin Holmes and Jason Shegda, who accounted for 33 of ESU’s 54 goals last year. Their top returning scorer is Toric Robinson, a first team All-PSAC East selection from last year who recorded 14 points and led the team with eight assists. Although the Warriors will need to replace some scoring from last year, their defense looks to be extremely strong, led by returning All-American back Danny Drago. Fellow starting defenders Michael Kane and Trevor Kelley return as does goalkeeper Larry Pokrywa, who was second in the league last year in goals against average.
Slippery Rock, under the direction of reigning PSAC West Coach of the Year Matt Thompson, looks to have a loaded team this year with the return of PSAC West Player of the Year Jeremy Deighton as well as three other first team All-PSAC West picks in midfielder Toby Bowser, defender Pat Conley and goalkeeper Greg Blum. Also returning is second team defender Mitch Walters. Overall, The Rock returns its top three scorers from last year, led by Deighton, who finished third in the PSAC in goals with 16, and five of their top six scorers. Additionally, Bowser’s 15 assists last year led the PSAC, both overall and per game, and were also a new school record.
Listed below are the preseason PSAC men’s soccer coaches’ polls. First place votes are in parenthesis.
Eastern Division
1. East Stroudsburg (3)
2. Millersville (2)
3. West Chester
4. Bloomsburg
5. Shippensburg
Western Division
1. Slippery Rock (3)
2. California
T3. Gannon (1)
T3. Mercyhurst (1)
5. Lock Haven