Entering its second year as a member of Northeast-10 Conference and NCAA Division II, the Adelphi University men’s soccer team has been slotted third in the NE-10 Coaches’ Poll, a ballot voted upon by the league’s 14 head coaches.
The Brown and Gold accumulated 143 points, including two first place votes, to place third in the poll. Taking the top spot with the remaining 12 first place votes towards 168 points is the reigning NCAA National Champion, Southern New Hampshire. Merrimack was second in between the Penmen and Panthers with 146 points.
Southern Connecticut State totaled two points fewer than Adelphi at 141 to claim fourth place. In fifth is Franklin Pierce (129 points) followed by Le Moyne (111 points) and Bentley (98 points). Saint Rose (69 points) finished one point ahead of American International (68 points) to take the eighth spot. Saint Michael’s rounded out the top-10 with 60 points.
Concluding the poll in order was Stonehill (48 points), New Haven (37 points), Assumption (32 points), and Saint Anselm (24).
The Panthers finished fourth in the conference standings during the 2013 season with a 9-4 NE-10 mark in their inaugural season as a member. Head coach Carlo Acquista enters year eight at the helm of Adelphi as 23 letterwinners are back, including eight starters.
The 2014 campaign starts Thursday, September 4 with the Adelphi Alumni Invitational that will continue on Saturday, September 6. The Brown and Gold first face Mercy on Thursday at 7:30 pm followed by an 8:00 pm kickoff on Saturday against LIU Post. Southern Connecticut State faces the Pioneers on Thursday to begin the Invitational as well as competing against the Mavericks on Saturday as part of the four-team event.
Women’s team also picked to finish third
After back-to-back appearances in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Final and earning a berth into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007 last season, the Adelphi University women’s soccer squad has been selected to finish third in 2014 according to the NE-10 Coaches’ Poll.
The Panthers accumulated 163 points in the poll, including a first place vote, to finish third behind Saint Rose and American International. The Golden Knights claimed the ballot’s top spot with 191 points and nine first place votes while the Yellow Jackets tallied the other five place votes towards 184 points.
Rounding out the top five was 160 points for New Haven in fourth and Merrimack in fifth with 136 points. Franklin Pierce comes in the sixth spot (115 points) while Assumption and Southern New Hampshire (102 points) tied for seventh. Southern Connecticut (100 points) and Saint Anselm (99 points) concluded the top-10. The remaining order finished with Stonehill (75 points), Pace (54 points), Le Moyne (37 points), Bentley (33 points), and Saint Michael’s (15 points).
As previously mentioned Adelphi earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament field and defeated Mercy 5-0 in the opening round to mark the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory since 2004. Head coach Chris Armas the 2013 NE-10 Coach of the Year, returns 23 letterwinners from a year ago.
The 2014 campaign begnis on Thursday, September 4 as the Panthers host non-conference opponent Chestnut Hill for a 2:30 pm match on Motamed Field. The NE-10 playoffs will commence on Tuesday, November 4. The league’s championship game will be played Sunday, November 9.
