Men's Soccer Picked Tenth In C-USA Preseason Poll
August 16, 2005 | Men's Soccer
IRVING, Texas ? The East Carolina men's soccer team has been picked tenth in the new-look Conference USA Preseason Coaches Poll announced today by the league office. Sophomore forward J.W. Gallagher, a 2004 C-USA All-Freshman Team selection, is one of 19 players named to the 2005 Conference USA Players-to-Watch list.
SMU, under the direction of 2004 NSCAA/adidas Midwest Region Coach of the Year Schellas Hyndman, has been selected to win the 2005 C-USA Men's Soccer Championship. Memphis senior forward Dayton O'Brien, the defending C-USA Offensive Player-of-the-Year, and UAB's Leandro de Oliveira have been named the Preseason C-USA Co-Offensive Players-of-the-Year, while Kentucky senior goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum was chosen as the C-USA Defensive Player-of-the-Year.
The Mustangs posted a 16-4-1 overall record last season as they advanced to their 11th consecutive NCAA postseason appearance, and 20th out of the last 21 years. SMU was ousted in the third round of the NCAA Tournament by Tulsa, who was picked second in the coaches' vote. The Golden Hurricane returns 13 letterwinners from a team that finished the season ranked No. 8 nationally and lost to national champion Indiana in the NCAA Tournament.
Defending Conference USA champ Memphis was chosen third, followed by conference newcomer South Carolina in fourth. Both teams also earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament in 2004. O'Brien, a second team All-America selection, led the Tigers to their first C-USA Championship with eight goals on the season. He also enters the 2005 season holding the school record for career assists with 26.
The Blazers were runners-up in the 2004 Conference USA standings and have been slotted fifth in the preseason rankings. Oliveira enters his much-anticipated senior season at UAB as the Preseason Co-Offensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row. A two-time All-American, he was a first team All-Conference USA midfielder in 2003 and 2004.
Joining affiliate member South Carolina, Kentucky and Florida International have been tabbed to finish sixth and seventh, respectively, in the league this season. Kentucky is counting on a strong presence in goal from preseason Defensive Player of the Year pick Gruenebaum. The senior goalkeeper ranked 19th nationally last season with a 0.814 goals against average. In 2003 as a sophomore, he recorded 10 shutouts as the Wildcats set a school record for fewest goals allowed in a season with 15.
UCF, under new head coach and former SMU assistant coach Brent Erwin, has been picked to finish eighth. Marshall and East Carolina fill in the last two slots, respectively.
The top eight finishers in the regular season earn a spot in the 2005 Conference USA Tournament. Quarterfinal matches will be hosted the weekend of Nov. 4-6 at home site's of the top four seeds. The 2005 semifinals and final will be hosted by the top remaining seed on Nov. 11 and 13. The league's 11th season kicks off Thursday, Sept. 1.
2005 C-USA PRESEASON AWARDS
C-USA PRESEASON Co-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS-OF-THE-YEAR
Dayton O'Brien, Sr., F/MF, Memphis
Leandro de Oliveira, Sr., MF, UAB
C-USA PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR
Andy Gruenebaum, Sr., GK, Kentucky
CONFERENCE USA PLAYERS-TO-WATCH
J.W. Gallagher, So., F, East Carolina
Carron Williams, Sr., F, Florida International
Lucas Scudeler, Sr., MF, Florida International
Andy Gruenebaum, Sr., GK, Kentucky
Brandon Stewart, Sr., D, Kentucky
Jared Dombrowski, Sr., D, Marshall
Kirk Gibson, Sr., MF, Marshall
Dayton O'Brien, Sr., F/MF, Memphis
Andy Metcalf, Sr., F, Memphis
Kellan Zindel, Sr., MF, SMU
David Chun, Sr., MF, SMU
Josh Alcala, Sr., MF, South Carolina
Eric Szeszycki, Sr., MF, South Carolina
Kyle Brown, Sr., F, Tulsa
Daniel Wasson, Sr., MF, Tulsa
Leandro de Oliveira, Sr., MF, UAB
Sandy Gbandi, Jr., MF, UAB
Ryan McIntosh, Sr., GK, UCF
Phillip Michael Hall, So., D, UCF
2005 C-USA PRESEASON POLL
(as selected by C-USA men's soccer coaches)
1. SMU
2. Tulsa
3. Memphis
4. South Carolina
5. UAB
6. Kentucky
7. Florida International
8. UCF
9. Marshall
10. East Carolina
