Aug. 16, 2005
IRVING, Texas - The UCF men's soccer team was selected eighth by league's coaches in the 2005 Conference USA Preseason Poll, which was released by the conference office on Monday. SMU, under the direction of 2004 NSCAA/adidas Midwest Region Coach of the Year Schellas Hyndman, was selected to win the C-USA Championship.
Former SMU assistant Brent Erwin took the reigns of the UCF program in May and inherits a squad that returns 10 letterwinners, including two-time Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Year Ryan McIntosh. Prior to joining C-USA this past July, the Golden Knights collected three consecutive A-Sun titles and made three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2004, they posted an 11-7-2 record and advanced to the second round before losing to No. 10 Wake Forest.
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 finished last season ranked No. 8 nationally and lost to national champion Indiana in the NCAA Tournament.
Defending C-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. UAB was runner-up in the 2004 C-USA standings and have been slotted fifth in the preseason rankings.
Joining affiliate member South Carolina, Kentucky and Florida International have been tabbed to finish sixth and seventh, respectively, in the league this season. Marshall and East Carolina rounded out the poll 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.
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.
UCF hosts St. Leo in an exhibition match on Aug. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the UCF Soccer Complex. The Golden Knights open the 2005 regular season against Lafayette in the UCF Kickoff Classic on Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
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
Preseason Co-Offensive Players of the Year - Dayton O'Brien (Memphis) & Leandro de Oliveira (UAB)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year - Andy Gruenebaum (Kentucky)