NEWTON, Mass (8/28/14) – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference men's soccer coaches have tabbed the Lasell College men's soccer team to place third in the league's preseason coaches poll, with Johnson and Wales claiming the top spot.
Johnson and Wales received five first place votes and 93 total points to lead the way, followed by Norwich with three first place votes and 89 points with the Lasers receiving one first place vote and 77 points.
Lasell finished the 2013 season with a 17-4-2 record, including earning the GNAC regular season title, falling to JWU in the championship match on penalty kicks. Lasell then advanced all the way to the ECAC New England championship, falling to Springfield College.
The 2013 side featured eight seniors who have departed the Lasell program, including All-America forward Mike Skelton and All-New England midfielder Nery Guerra. Cedric Dybaud also earned First Team All-GNAC honors as a midfielder in his final campaign, while fellow midfield classmate Sokol Bako was chosen as a member of the league's Third Team. The program also lost forward Brennan Adams, midfielders Jared Lewis and Lawrence Fagan and defender Alex Parent to graduation. The group combined to appear in 162 matches including 109 starts during the 2013 campaign and collectively they amassed 31 of the teams 59 goals and 19 of their 43 assists.
The 2014 side returns 19 players from a year ago and will be led by first-year head coach Burke Hazard. The Lasers will open their season August 30th at Keene State with kick-off slated for 3:30 p.m. followed by a match-up with Hobart College at 12:30 on Sunday August 31st. The rest of their non-conference schedule includes home matches against Pine Manor, Brandeis, Clark and Regis along with road fixtures facing Gordon College and Babson College.
2014 GNAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Johnson & Wales (5) - 93
2. Norwich (3) - 89
3. Lasell (1) - 77
4. Saint Joseph's (ME) - 61
5. Albertus Magnus - 58
6. Mount Ida - 52
7. Emmanuel - 45
8. Suffolk (1) - 38
9. Rivier - 24
10. Anna Maria - 13