WILMINGTON, N.C. - Defending Colonial Athletic Association men's soccer regular season champion UNC Wilmington has been picked to finish fourth in the league's preseason poll.

CAA Champion and NCAA tournament participant George Mason collected 10 first-place votes and was predicted to win the title again by the league's head coaches. Following the Patriots were Old Dominion and William & Mary, followed by the Seahawks.

Only the top four will qualify for the CAA Tournament this season. The event will be held on the campus of the regular season champion.

UNCW returns 10 starters from last season, including CAA Player-of-the-Year Devan Carroll and Defender-of-the-Year Indy Smith. Also returning to the midfield is junior Brian Harrison, who earned a spot on the All-Rookie squad.

Following the Seahawks in the predicted order of finish were Northeastern, Towson, VCU, Hofstra, James Madison, Drexel, Georgia State and Delaware.

The Seahawks, who blanked Francis Marion their exhibition opener, 3-0, close out their preseason slate Sunday at Winthrop. UNCW opens its regular season with a pairing against long-ime rival Campbell on Sept. 1 at the UNCW Soccer Stadium.


2009 CAA MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL

  1. George Mason (11 first-place votes)        121
  2. Old Dominion                                                100
  3. William & Mary (1 first-place vote)              94
  4. UNC Wilmington                                           86
  5. Northeastern                                                 75
  6. Towson                                                           68
  7. VCU                                                                 67
  8. Hofstra                                                            60
  9. James Madison                                            43
  10. Drexel                                                              39
  11. Georgia State                                                 22
  12. Delaware                                                        17

(Teams received 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 for second, etc. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.)