Thursday, August 18, 2005

NORTH GEORGIA MEN'S SOCCER PICKED 7TH IN PEACH BELT PRESEASON POLL

AUGUSTA, GA – The Peach Belt Conference preseason coaches poll was released today with the North Georgia College & State University men's soccer team picked to finish seventh in the PBC.

The Clayton State University Lakers have been selected as the favorites to win the 2005 Peach Belt Conference men's soccer championship. Clayton State received four of a possible six first-place votes for 33 points, putting them ahead of second-place USC Upstate, who was one point ahead of UNC Pembroke in third.

The 2005 season will feature a new-look Peach Belt Conference as the Saints join the league while North Florida departs for the Division I ranks. NGCSU will compete in the full conference schedule this season and play in the PBC Tournament, although the Saints will not be eligible for the NCAA tournament while they continue to the transition to the Division II level.

Last season, North Georgia finished 13-5-2 overall and 8-1-1 in conference. The Saints were 0-2-1 against PBC opponents in 2004, but their two losses against preseason favorites Clayton State and USC Upstate were by a single goal. First year head coach Todd Eason looks to build on last season's success and storm the Peach Belt this fall.

Clayton State is coming off a 12-4-4 record last season that saw them advance to the NCAA Tournament and win their first tournament game. The Lakers, ranked #14 in the NSCAA preseason top 25, lost five starters from last year's team, but do return All-Americans Alex Dowling and Juan Trujillo along with All-Conference goalkeeper Heath Padgett .

USC Upstate returns hungry in 2005 after missing the NCAA field for the first time in two years last season. The Spartans return eight starters from last season's 15-4 squad, but will have to replace the scoring of Gary Lynch , who led the PBC with 26 goals. Stepping to the forefront will be All-American Liam Slack with 18 goals and 14-goal scorer Jorge Atehortua .

UNC Pembroke broke through in 2004 with their first PBC Championship and PBC Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA final four where they fell in the national semifinals for a 16-3 overall record. The Braves will be without All-American Sacha Gorres , but return All-Conference players Thomas Lindal , Graeme Little , Trond Myrland and Sinan Tumkaya .

Below is the 2005 preseason coaches poll. Teams receiving a first-place vote were awarded six points, second place five points and so on. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams. The 2005 season begins on Aug. 26 and rolls on to the PBC Tournament, which begins on Nov. 2.

The Saints season begins on August 27 with a match against Belhaven College on the road. North Georgia's first home match will be on September 7 against Milligan College.

2005 Peach Belt Conference Preseason Poll

School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	Total
1. Clayton State	4	1	1	0	0	0	33
2. USC Upstate	0	5	1	0	0	0	29
3. UNC Pembroke	2	1	2	1	0	0	28
4. Lander	1	0	3	2	0	0	24
5. Francis Marion	0	0	0	3	2	1	14
6. USC Aiken	0	0	0	0	4	2	10
7. North Georgia	0	0	0	1	1	4	9

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