UALBANY MEN'S SOCCER RANKED SIXTH IN PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
Boston, Mass. - The University at Albany men's soccer team has been chosen to finish sixth in the America East Conference in a preseason poll of the conference's head coaches.
Vermont received two first-place votes to earn top ranking, while Boston University was chosen second, despite receiving four first-place votes. Defending A-East tournament champion Stony Brook was third, followed by Binghamton and UMBC.
A young Great Danes squad finished 3-4-1 last season in the conference and 6-9-4 overall, defeating Vermont in the first round of the post-season tournament before falling to eventual champion Stony Brook in the semifinals.
Head coach Johan Aarnio's squad returns two all-conference players, forward Yan Gbolo and midfielder Stephan Hall, who was chosen to the ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-America Team. The two led the team with five goals apiece.
The Great Danes open the season with games at San Diego State on Friday, Aug. 25 and at San Diego on Sunday, Aug. 27, before returning for their home opener on Friday, Sept. 1 against Colgate at 4 p.m.
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2006 America East Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Vermont (2), 2. Boston U. (4), 3. Stony Brook (3), 4. Binghamton, 5. UMBC, 6. Albany, 7. New Hampshire, 8. Hartford, 9. Maine. (First-place votes in parentheses)
