Michael Kahn
Michael Kahn

Bentley Men's Soccer Voted Sixth in Northeast-10 Preseason Poll

WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley University men's soccer team has been voted sixth in the Northeast-10's Preseason Coaches' Poll, it was announced Monday. The Falcons, who have made five consecutive appearances in the Northeast-10 playoffs, open their 2013 season on Thursday at Queens (N.Y.).

Coming off a season where they went 8-3-2 in NE-10 play and finished in a tie for fourth, Bentley received 113 points in the voting to finish just outside the top-five.

Defending conference champions Southern New Hampshire took the top-spot in the poll with 168 points and 12 first-place votes. Franklin Pierce came in second with 146 points, followed by the defending regular season champions Merrimack in third with 136 points and one first-place vote. Adelphi, a newcomer to the NE-10 in men's soccer this season, is fourth with 131 points and one first-place vote, and Southern Connecticut is fifth with 122 points.

Behind Bentley, the remainder of the preseason poll has Le Moyne seventh (99 points), AIC eighth (77), New Haven ninth (63), Saint Michael's 10th (61), Saint Anselm 11th (52), Stonehill 12th (43), Assumption 13th (41) and Saint Rose 14th (22).

Led by sixth-year head coach Gary Crompton, Bentley returns 20 players from last year's team. Junior forward Michael Kahn (Bellevue, Wash./Newport) is the leading returning scorer (3g, 2a), and seniors Jordan Bridge (Tolland, Conn./Tolland) and Justin Cirasola (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside) are the co-captains.

After opening at Queens on Thursday, Bentley will stay down in New York to take on New York Tech on Sept. 7. The team's home and NE-10 opener comes one week later on Sept. 14 against Southern Connecticut.

2013 Northeast-10 Men's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll
1. Southern New Hampshire – 168 (12)
2. Franklin Pierce – 146
3. Merrimack – 136 (1)
4. Adelphi – 131 (1)
5. Southern Connecticut – 122
6. Bentley – 113
7. Le Moyne – 99
8. American International – 77
9. New Haven – 63
10. Saint Michael's – 61
11. Saint Anselm – 52
12. Stonehill – 43
13. Assumption – 41
14. Saint Rose – 22

( ) – indicates first-place votes