FARMINGTON, Maine -- University of Maine at Farmington men's soccer was picked to finish seventh in the 2016 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) men's soccer preseason poll.
The Beavers earned a total of 47 points in the poll and only one point shy from stealing away the sixth spot from Maine Maritime Academy. Castleton University was selected second with 86 points and New England College took third with 75 points, after both the Spartans and Pilgrims earned one first place vote each. Colby-Sawyer College was voted fourth with 71 points, while Husson University garnered the remaining first place vote and 63 points to take fifth. Rounding out the poll was Johnson State College in eighth (30 points), Lyndon State College in ninth (27 points), and Green Mountain College in 10th (10 points).
Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the league's head men's soccer coaches.
2016 NAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
|
|
Team
|
Points (First Place Votes)
|
|
1.
|
Thomas
|
95 (7)
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2.
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Castleton
|
86 (1)
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|
3.
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New England College
|
75 (1)
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|
4.
|
Colby-Sawyer
|
71
|
|
5.
|
Husson
|
63 (1)
|
|
6.
|
Maine Maritime
|
47
|
|
7.
|
UMaine-Farmington
|
46
|
|
8.
|
Johnson State
|
30
|
|
9.
|
Lyndon
|
27
|
|
10.
|
Green Mountain
|
10
|
UMaine-Farmington (6-10-3, 3-4-2 NAC) is looking to build on the late season success from 2015, which included a NAC semifinal appearance, by using the strong leadership of the core returning players. Senior captain Henry Ametti (Skowhegan, Maine/Skowhegan) leads the Beavers into the new season with reinforcement coming from fellow senior Tayoung Nuyepga (Framingham, Mass./Framingham), juniors Matt Wilson (Hampden, Conn./Hamden) and Dan Bernier (Poland, Maine/Poland), and sophomore Tristan Price (Moultonborough, N.H./Moultonborough).
UMF will face non-conference opponents Bates, Southern Maine, St. Joseph's (Me.), and the University of New England.
UMaine-Farmington hosts UMaine-Presque Isle on September 4 in the season opener.
