Aug. 2, 2012
Link to Atlantic 10 Release
Bronx, NY -
The Atlantic 10 men's soccer coaches released their preseason poll on Thursday, and Fordham, the 2011 regular season champion, was predicted to finish fifth in the conference, behind Charlotte, Xavier, VCU and Saint Louis.
Following the Rams in the poll were George Washington, followed by Butler, La Salle, Duquesne, Dayton, Temple, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Richmond, St. Bonaventure and Saint Joseph's.
The Rams return six starters from last year's championship team including All Atlantic 10 First Team selection, Nathaniel Bekoe, as well as Second Team honoree, Ryan Curran. Joining them on the starting pitch are incumbent players Casper Gimand, Michael Stalker, Michael Valencia and Andre Seidenthal. Fordham will look to a slew of newcomers and key reserves from a year ago to fill out the other five positions.
Jim McElderry, the 2011 NSCAA/Mondo Mid-Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year, will be at the helm of the soccer team for his tenth season in 2012. McElderry has amassed a career record of 69-72-23 over his first nine seasons and was awarded the Iron Major Trophy at the 2012 Block F dinner as Fordham's Coach of the Year. Accompanying him along the sidelines will be assistant coaches Gavin Wyse and John San Fillipo.
The 2011 season was a special one for Fordham as the Rams captured a share of the Atlantic 10 regular season title for the first time in school history, finishing the year with an 11-7-1 overall record, 7-2 in the conference. The Rams knocked off a pair of ranked opponents in Xavier and Charlotte and had seven players feted with postseason accolades, including senior keeper, Ryan Meara, the 2011 Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year, who was drafted by the New York Red Bulls in the MLS SuperDraft in January.
Fordham opens its 2012 season at Rutgers on August 24. The home opener is August 26 against Adelphi and A-10 play commences with an October 5 meeting at La Salle.
For the first time in conference history, the Atlantic 10 men's soccer championship has been expanded to an eight-team field. The tournament will be contested at Transamerica Field from November 8-1 with Charlotte servings as hosts.
