Flagler Men's Soccer Ranked #5 in Preseason National Poll

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Flagler College men’s soccer team debuts at No. 5 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire NCAA Division II Top 25 poll. Flagler finished last season ranked No. 5.

Flagler is coming off a 17-3-3 record last year, its best season since becoming a Division II school in 2006. The Saints won both the Peach Belt Conference’s regular and post season title in 2011.

The Saints return six starters from last year’s team, including Joseph Toby and Kevin Keenan who earned first-team all-conference honors. Toby also earned Daktronics All-America first-team accolades to go along with all-region awards from the NSCAA and Daktronics.

Head coach John Lynch, the 2009 and 2011 PBC Coach of the Year, returns for his 14^th year at the helm of the Flagler program. His team will be tested early as they open the season at home against No. 18 Coker College on Sept. 1 and follow that with No. 20 Rollins College on Sept. 3. Both games will be at Saints Field and start at 7 p.m. Flagler will face No. 24 Anderson University on Oct. 15 at Anderson, S.C.

The defending national champions, Fort Lewis College of Durango, Colo., is ranked No. 1 and is followed by the national runners-up, Lynn University. Franklin Pierce University of Rindge, N.H. is third while Millersville (Pa.) University is fourth.

Flagler is the lone Peach Belt Conference school ranked in the preseason poll. Other than Flagler, Coker and Anderson, the only other school in the region ranked in the poll is Mars Hill College at No. 17. Lees-McRae College is receiving votes.

To see the complete poll, click here.