AUGUSTA, Ga. − The Flagler College men’s soccer team has been picked to finish atop the Peach Belt Conference standings, according to the league coaches, in a release of the preseason poll by conference officials.
Flagler tallied 62 points and tallied seven first-place votes (out of a possible eight) and had one third-place vote. The Saints went 14-6-2 last season and posted a 7-1-0 mark in league play, winning the conference regular season title in their first year. Flagler tied Lander University in the PBC tournament championship match, but lost in penalty kicks. The Saints qualified for the Southeast Regional, but lost in the first round at Wingate. A year ago, Flagler was picked to finish seventh in the preseason coaches poll.
Flagler returns nine starters and 17 letter winners overall, including preseason all-conference selections
Johan Bergfeld (Akers Styckebruk, Sweden/Rekarnegymnasiet) and
Joseph Toby (Jacksonville, Fla./Wolfson HS) who was the conference freshman of the year in 2009. PBC Coach of the Year John Lynch will also welcome 10 newcomers.
Lander, the winners of the PBC postseason tournament, was picked to finish second with 53 points as it received five second-place votes and three third-place votes. Clayton State University and the University of Montevallo tied for third with 48 points apiece. Each picked up one first-place vote to go along with two second, two third, two fourth and one fifth place votes. Francis Marion University was selected fifth with 37 votes followed by: UNC Pembroke (31) in sixth; USC Aiken (19) in seventh; North Georgia College & State University (18) in eighth; and, Georgia Southwestern State University (8) in ninth.
Flagler opens the season Sept. 3 at NCAA Division II national runners-up in 2009, Lees-McRae College, who is ranked No. 2 in the preseason NSCAA Division II poll. The Saints will open defense of its regular season conference title on the road against Montevallo on Sept. 11.