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August 25, 2010

Flagler Named PBC Men’s Soccer Favorite

AUGUSTA, GA – The Flagler College men’s soccer team has been voted as the preseason team to beat in the Peach Belt Conference in the 2010 season as a poll of the league’s head coaches was released today.  The Saints claimed seven of a possible eight first-place votes for 62 total points, finishing ahead of Lander who had 53.  Clayton State tied Montevallo for third in the voting and Francis Marion in fifth.  UNC Pembroke, USC Aiken, North Georgia and Georgia Southwestern rounded out the voting.

Flagler joined the Peach Belt Conference beginning with the 2009 season and immediately won their first regular-season championship.  The Saints were 14-6-2 overall, 7-1 in conference play and reached the PBC Tournament championship game where they fell in a shootout to Lander.  Flagler also made their first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2009.  For 2010, head coach John Lynch returns nine starters and 17 letterwinners, including five All-Conference selections and PBC Freshman of the Year Joseph Toby.  Toby and Johan Bergfeld were also named to the preseason All-Conference team.

Lander won their fourth PBC Tournament title in 2009 and made their fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament.  Head coach Van Taylor returns for his 26th season at the helm of the Bearcats with eight lettermen returning including three All-Conference standouts.  Aaron Brittain was named the PBC Player of the Year in 2008 and could become only the fourth men’s soccer player to be named All-Conference four times.  Also returning are All-PBC players Jamie Davidson and Craig Hughes.

Clayton State finished third in the league standings in 2009 with an 11-6-1 overall record, 5-2-1 in conference play and reached the semifinals of the PBC Tournament.  Coach Pete Petersen brings back five starters from last year’s team including forward Leighton Fredericks.  Fredericks was the 2008 PBC Freshman of the Year and named All-Conference in each of his first two seasons.  The Lakers also bring back all four starters on a defense that lead the PBC with 10 shutouts last year.

Montevallo made their PBC debuts in 2009 and will make another in 2010 as Ken Hassler takes over the coaching duties for the Falcons.  UM was 10-7-1 their first year in the PBC, 5-3 in conference play and advanced to the PBC Tournament semifinals.  Seniors Nathaniel Foster and Milan Pualic were both named to the preseason All-Conference team and were the top two scorers for the Falcons in 2009.  In total, eight starters return from last season’s team including the top four point scorers.

The 2010 men’s soccer season begins on Sept. 2 with conference play beginning Sept. 11 and continuing on to the PBC Tournament Nov. 2, 5-7 at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Ga.  The men’s soccer championships are being held as part of the first-ever PBC Fall Festival which will unite the men’s and women’s soccer championships and the men’s and women’s cross country championships at the same facility on the same weekend.

The coaches poll is listed below, coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.

For a team-by-team preview of the 2010 season, please click here.

Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th Total
1. Flagler 7 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 62
2. Lander 0 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 53
t3. Clayton State 1 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 48
t3. Montevallo 1 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 48
5. Francis Marion 0 0 1 3 4 0 0 0 37
6. UNC Pembroke 0 0 0 2 3 3 0 0 31
7. USC Aiken 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 0 19
8. North Georgia 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 0 18
9. Georgia Southwestern 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 8