Columns in order:
Adjusted RPI's 2015-17 (conference rating at top),
2018 non-conf. average RPI's and SOS's based on 2017,
2018 pre-season poll rankings
The Colonial Athletic Association had a 6-year streak of sending multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament snapped in 2016, but the circuit managed to send William & Mary as the conference tournament champs and UNCW as an at-large in 2017.
William & Mary hasn't won the regular-season title since 2010, but still made it to the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and again last year. The Tribe are the unanimous pick to win the regular season mainly because they have senior midfielder Antonio Bustamante, a Hermann Trophy Watch candidate after scoring 15 goals and adding 5 assists in 2017. William & Mary will host North Carolina early in the season, entertains Coastal Carolina and later visits NC State, Loyola Maryland, Maryland, Virginia Tech and former conference mate Old Dominion.
UNCW returns four of its top five starters and placed four players on the pre-season all-conference team, led by forwards Phillip Goodrum and Emil Elvero. James Madison will defend its regular-season title under the guidance new head coach Paul Zazenski. The Dukes return nine starters from last season’s squad, including 2017 all-CAA picks Manuel Ferriol, Thomas Judge, Fernando Casero, Yannick Franz and TJ Bush.
Hofstra, tabbed fourth in the poll, is led by 2017 honorees George O’Malley and Luke Brown. O’Malley collected all-rookie honors after leading Hofstra’s defense. Brown was the 2016 CAA Rookie of the Year and 2017 second team all-CAA pick, tallying three goals and three assists. Elon will attempt to survive a brutal non-conference schedule in which it hosts Charlotte and Duke, visits Virginia and meets FIU in Durham, NC. Phoenix goalkeeper Matthew Jegier owns the Elon career record in shutouts (26) and led the CAA in goals-against average (0.57), save percentage (.833) and shutouts (10) in 2017.
The Colonial Athletic Association had a 6-year streak of sending multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament snapped in 2016, but the circuit managed to send William & Mary as the conference tournament champs and UNCW as an at-large in 2017.
William & Mary hasn't won the regular-season title since 2010, but still made it to the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and again last year. The Tribe are the unanimous pick to win the regular season mainly because they have senior midfielder Antonio Bustamante, a Hermann Trophy Watch candidate after scoring 15 goals and adding 5 assists in 2017. William & Mary will host North Carolina early in the season, entertains Coastal Carolina and later visits NC State, Loyola Maryland, Maryland, Virginia Tech and former conference mate Old Dominion.
UNCW returns four of its top five starters and placed four players on the pre-season all-conference team, led by forwards Phillip Goodrum and Emil Elvero. James Madison will defend its regular-season title under the guidance new head coach Paul Zazenski. The Dukes return nine starters from last season’s squad, including 2017 all-CAA picks Manuel Ferriol, Thomas Judge, Fernando Casero, Yannick Franz and TJ Bush.
Hofstra, tabbed fourth in the poll, is led by 2017 honorees George O’Malley and Luke Brown. O’Malley collected all-rookie honors after leading Hofstra’s defense. Brown was the 2016 CAA Rookie of the Year and 2017 second team all-CAA pick, tallying three goals and three assists. Elon will attempt to survive a brutal non-conference schedule in which it hosts Charlotte and Duke, visits Virginia and meets FIU in Durham, NC. Phoenix goalkeeper Matthew Jegier owns the Elon career record in shutouts (26) and led the CAA in goals-against average (0.57), save percentage (.833) and shutouts (10) in 2017.
More previews to come...follow links to rpiupdate.blogspot.com's daily scoreboards, team schedules, conference standings, NCAA Tournament projection and the most updated, accurately adjusted Division I men's soccer RPI rankings available.
