Men's Soccer tabbed for fifth in SLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll

St. Louis, Mo. - Fontbonne University men's soccer has been picked to finish fifth with 51 points according to the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's Preseason Coaches Poll.

Westminster was the unanimous vote for the top spot this season after the Blue Jays have claimed the last three SLIAC Tournament titles. Greenville and Webster were also in the tournament last year and have been picked for second and third respectively this season.

The Griffins have made it to the SLIAC Tournament in each of the last 16 seasons and will look to do so again this year. Last year Fontbonne finished the season 9-11 overall and 6-3 in conference play during head coach Ricky Andrews' first season at the helm.

Spalding and Fontbonne tied last year in the fourth slot in the standings but Fontbonne defeated the Golden Eagles 2-1 during the regular season to advance to the SLIAC Tournament for the 16 year in a row. Spalding have been chosen to finish the regular season in fourth place with 59 points, just one point behind Webster.

Fontbonne returns last season's top goal-scorer in junior Alex Phillips who scored 12 goals including four game-winners. The Griffins also return last season's other top two scorers in Ryan Dudley and Alex Lamoreaux, as well as defenders Alex Smith and Brendan Kopff and midfielder Matt Key.

Key losses from last season include defenders Alex Platipodis and Devin Arand as well as midfielder Nathan Spiess. Fontbonne will look to incoming players David Keeven, Greg Ferry, Nick Nelson and Tyler Scales to send the Griffins back to the SLIAC Tournament.

1. Westminster, 81 (9)

2. Greenville, 63 (1)

3. Webster, 60

4. Spalding, 59

5. Fontbonne, 51

6. Principia, 43

7. Blackburn, 35

8. Eureka, 31

9. MacMurray, 15

10. Iowa Wesleyan, 10