Aug. 9, 2010
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Fordham University men’s soccer team was selected to finish fifth out of 14 teams in the Atlantic 10, as officials from the conference announced the preseason poll on Monday, after a vote from all 14 of the league’s head coaches.
After advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, winning the A-10’s automatic berth in 2009, Saint Louis was chosen to defend their ’09 title in the 2010 preseason listing. Charlotte was picked second, followed by the ’09 preseason favorite Dayton and Rhode Island.
Fordham finished fourth in the Atlantic 10 in 2009 with a 6-1-2 conference record and 9-7-3 overall slate. The Rams made their third-straight appearance in the conference tournament after being selected to finish eighth in the 2009 preseason poll.
For the Rams, the No. 5 ranking is the highest in head coach Jim McElderry’s eight-year tenure. Prior to last season’s No. 8 preseason listing, Fordham was picked No. 7 (2008), No. 9 (2007), No. 9 (2006), No. 13 (2005), No. 9 (2004) and No. 12 (2003).
Last week, Fordham had three student-athletes selected to the Atlantic 10’s preseason All-Conference teams with junior goalkeeper Ryan Meara (Yonkers, N.Y./Fordham Prep) and junior midfielder Tim Richardson (North Palmerston, New Zealand/North Palmerston) placed on the all-conference team and newcomer Michael Stalker (Wall, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep), making the All-Rookie squad.
The 2010 Fordham men's soccer team will start their quest for its fourth-straight Atlantic 10 tournament berth on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at home on Jack Coffey Field against Adelphi at 7 p.m.
The season will conclude with the six-team A-10 Men's Soccer Championship to be held Nov. 11-14 at Transamerica Field on the campus of Charlotte.
2010 Predicted Order Of Finish (2009 A-10/Overall record in parentheses)
1. Saint Louis (7-2-0/15-7-0)
2. Charlotte (5-5-2/11-3-6)
3. Dayton (8-1-0/14-5-1)
4. Rhode Island (6-3-0/9-9-2)
5. Fordham (6-1-2/9-7-3)
6. Massachusetts (4-5-0/7-7-3)
7. Temple (4-4-1/9-7-2)
8. Duquesne (4-4-1/9-7-2)
9. George Washington (4-5-0/10-8-0)
10. Richmond (2-5-2/5-11-2)
11. St. Bonaventure (5-4-0/10-9-0)
12. La Salle (2-5-2/6-10-3)
13. Xavier (1-8-0/2-13-1)
14. Saint Joseph’s (0-9-0/0-17-0)
