Behrend Lions Men's Soccer Selected Second in AMCC Preseason Poll

Defending champion Medaille College has been picked to win their fourth men's soccer title in five years, as voted by the coaches of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.  Penn St. Behrend, the 2007 conference champions who hold four titles overall, were ranked #2.  Frostburg State University, three-time AMCC champions, was expected to finish third.

Preseason Player of the Year honors were again awarded to Medaille midfielder Gary Boughton (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster), last season's Player of the Year and a three-time, first team all-conference selection.  The senior captain was also an NSCAA Regional All-American and Scholar All-American.  

This season the conference welcomes D'Youville College to its ranks; the Spartans were previously members of the North Eastern Athletic Conference.  The AMCC kicks off conference play on Saturday, September 19, and the championship will be Saturday, November 7, hosted by the number #1 seed.  The winner will receive the AMCC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
 
The Behrend Lions had two players named to the AMCC Players to Watch List. Senior goalkeeper Dustin Walker (Apollo, PA/Kiski), a First team All-AMCC member in 2007 and 2008, recorded nine shutouts last season and will serve as team captain this fall.

Senior Josh Teti (McKeesport, PA/Elizabeth Forward) started 21 games as a sophomore and has earned second team all-conference honors. He will anchor the Behrend Lions from the midfield position.

A year ago, Behrend played for the AMCC title, but fell 3-0 to Medaille before earning a berth in the ECAC South Tournament and completing the season at 13-8-1.

AMCC MEN'S SOCCER POLL
2009 Preseason Rankings*

1. Medaille (1)
2. Penn State Behrend (2)
3. Frostburg State (2)
4. Penn State Altoona (4)
5. La Roche (5)
6. Franciscan (7)
7. Pitt-Greensburg (9)
8. Hilbert (9)
9. Pitt-Bradford (8)
10. D'Youville (N/A)
11. Mount Aloysius (10)

* Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in 2008