For Immediate Release: August 22, 2006
Contact: David O'Brian (dobrian@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Binghamton men's soccer picked fourth in America East Conference preseason poll

VESTAL, N.Y. - BOSTON— In one of the closest preseason polls in recent history, the Binghamton men's soccer team was picked to finish fourth in the America East Conference. The voting was done by the nine conference head coaches.

Vermont was picked as the preseason favorite to win the America East Title. The Catamounts received two first-place votes (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team) and 54 points overall to edge Boston University, who had four first-place votes and 53 points. Defending champion Stony Brook was third and collected three first-place votes and 49 total points. Binghamton University was fourth, just one point behind Stony Brook at 48.

UMBC (38 points) and University at Albany (31) were fifth and sixth respectively, while University of New Hampshire (27), University of Hartford (13), and University of Maine (11) rounded out the nine-team poll.

The top six teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship with the winner of the tournament receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA College Cup.

Binghamton kicks off its 2006 season on Friday against Bucknell at the West Gym Field at 4 p.m. The Bearcats went 12-4-5 last season and advanced to the America East Conference finals for the third consecutive year.

Rank	Team (1st place votes)	Points
1.	Vermont (2)	54
2.	Boston (4)	53
3.	Stony Brook (3)	49
4.	BINGHAMTON	48
5.	UMBC	38
6.	Albany	31
7.	New Hampshire	27
8.	Hartford	13
9.	Maine	11