Aug. 8, 2012
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Poised for another successful season, the UCF men's soccer team has been selected to finish third in the Conference USA Preseason Poll. The Knights, who have advanced to the second round in each of the last two NCAA Championships, received one first-place vote in the poll of the league's nine head coaches, which was released Wednesday.
A pair of Knights - senior Andrew Quintana and junior McKauly Tulloch - were named to the C-USA Preseason All-Conference Team.
UCF spent all of last season ranked in the top 25 nationally, moving to as high as No. 6. The Knights went 12-6-3 and return several talented letterwinners, and also welcome an impressive recruiting class.
The leader of UCF's back line, Quintana was named to the All-C-USA First Team in 2011 and also earned a spot on the NSCAA All-South Region Team after starting all 21 contests. The Miami native played a team-high 1,983 minutes and helped the Knights limit their opponents to 23 total goals during the year.
A forward, Tulloch earned all-league third team honors and was selected to the all-south region second team a year ago. He recorded 15 goals and four assists for 34 points. His 15 goals ranked ninth on the UCF single-season register.
South Carolina was tabbed first in the 2012 preseason league poll, followed by SMU.
UCF will play the first of three exhibition games on Aug. 14 against College of Charleston in South Carolina. The team will open the regular season on Aug. 24 at Florida Atlantic, and the home opener is set for Sept. 1 versus Old Dominion at the UCF Soccer Complex.
On Tuesday, the preseason National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Continental Tire Top 25 was released and UCF received votes in the poll.
Season tickets, which include a savings off of the single-game ticket price, are $30 and include a commemorative UCF soccer scarf. Season Tickets are currently available by visiting UCFAthletics.com or by calling (407) UCF-1000. The Gold Pass, which includes season tickets to all volleyball, men's and women's soccer, women's basketball, soccer and track and field contests, is also available now.
C-USA Preseason Poll
1. South Carolina (1 first-place vote)
2. SMU (2)
3. UCF (1)
4. UAB (3)
5. Memphis (1)
6. Tulsa (1)
7. Kentucky
8. Marshall
9. FIU
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Mark Sherrod, F, Memphis
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Daniel Withrow, GK, Marshall
Preseason All-C-USA Team
Anthony Hobbs, FIU
Dylan Asher, Kentucky
Tom Jackson, Marshall
Anthony Virgara, Marshall
Daniel Withrow, Marshall
Liam Collins, Memphis
Mark Sherrod, Memphis
Juan Castillo, SMU
Bradlee Baladez, South Carolina
Omar Mata, Tulsa
Reed Matte, UAB
McKauly Tulloch, UCF
Andrew Quintana, UCF