Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Davidson Picked Fifth; Reinikka Named All-Rookie
8/26/2014 2:26:00 PM | Men's Soccer
DAVIDSON, N.C. – In addition to Davidson being picked to finish fifth in the Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer Preseason Poll, freshman Matt Reinikka has been named to the all-rookie team, as voted on by the league's head coaches.
"It's a brand new conference and the opponents are a bit unknown to us, and us to them for that matter," said head coach Matt Spear. "Of course it's the final ranking that matters and our team goal is to finish at the top. You have to aim for the pinnacle and be championship oriented in your preparation and mindset. We very much look forward to the battles and to the competition in this new horizon."
Saint Louis, which is ranked 15th in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Preseason National Rankings, garnered 10 first-place votes to take the top spot in the poll, while defending A-10 champion George Mason was voted second with 151 total points.
VCU received the final first-place vote and is predicted to finish third ahead of Dayton and the Wildcats, who became official league members in July.
Duquesne (100 pts), La Salle (93 pts) and Fordham (70 pts), George Washington (58 pts), Saint Joseph's (53 pts), Massachusetts (40 pts), Rhode Island (39 pts) and St. Bonaventure (34 pts) rounded out the poll.
A defender from Mill Creek, Wash., and product of Henry M. Jackson High School, Reinikka was the lone Wildcat selected to one of the A-10's preseason teams.
"We are super pumped that the other head coaches see Matt as a promising talent with a lot of ambition. His pedigree with the Seattle Sounders is top shelf. Matt's development in our preseason is coming along well in terms of impact as a communicator and tough, smart defender," commented Spear.
2014 Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Saint Louis 164 (10)
2. George Mason 151 (2)
3. VCU 147 (1)
4. Dayton 127
5. Davidson 105
6. Duquesne 100
7. La Salle 93
8. Fordham 70
9. George Washington 58
10. Saint Joseph's 53
11. Massachusetts 40
12. Rhode Island 39
13. St. Bonaventure 34
() Denotes 1st Place Votes
2014 Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team
Forwards
Timi Mulgrew, George Mason
Robert Kristo, Saint Louis
Kingsley Bryce, Saint Louis
Kharlton, Blemar, VCU
Midfielders
Amass Amankona, Dayton
David Graydon, Saint Louis
Devon Fishcher, VCU
Defenders
Taylor Washington, George Mason
Anthony Manning, Saint Louis
Dennis Castillo, VCU
Goalkeeper?
Steffen Kraus, George Mason
All-Rookie Team
Matt Reinikka, Davidson
Dillon Nino, Dayton
Lance Gasper, Dayton
Henning Dirks, George Mason
Alain Sargent, George Mason
Nils Leifhelm, Rhode Island
Andre Rivers-Hardware, Saint Louis
Patrick Sarr, Saint Louis?Rafael
Andrade Santos, VCU
Pierre Gardan, VCU?
Jorge Herranz, VCU
"It's a brand new conference and the opponents are a bit unknown to us, and us to them for that matter," said head coach Matt Spear. "Of course it's the final ranking that matters and our team goal is to finish at the top. You have to aim for the pinnacle and be championship oriented in your preparation and mindset. We very much look forward to the battles and to the competition in this new horizon."
Saint Louis, which is ranked 15th in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Preseason National Rankings, garnered 10 first-place votes to take the top spot in the poll, while defending A-10 champion George Mason was voted second with 151 total points.
VCU received the final first-place vote and is predicted to finish third ahead of Dayton and the Wildcats, who became official league members in July.
Duquesne (100 pts), La Salle (93 pts) and Fordham (70 pts), George Washington (58 pts), Saint Joseph's (53 pts), Massachusetts (40 pts), Rhode Island (39 pts) and St. Bonaventure (34 pts) rounded out the poll.
A defender from Mill Creek, Wash., and product of Henry M. Jackson High School, Reinikka was the lone Wildcat selected to one of the A-10's preseason teams.
"We are super pumped that the other head coaches see Matt as a promising talent with a lot of ambition. His pedigree with the Seattle Sounders is top shelf. Matt's development in our preseason is coming along well in terms of impact as a communicator and tough, smart defender," commented Spear.
2014 Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Saint Louis 164 (10)
2. George Mason 151 (2)
3. VCU 147 (1)
4. Dayton 127
5. Davidson 105
6. Duquesne 100
7. La Salle 93
8. Fordham 70
9. George Washington 58
10. Saint Joseph's 53
11. Massachusetts 40
12. Rhode Island 39
13. St. Bonaventure 34
() Denotes 1st Place Votes
2014 Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team
Forwards
Timi Mulgrew, George Mason
Robert Kristo, Saint Louis
Kingsley Bryce, Saint Louis
Kharlton, Blemar, VCU
Midfielders
Amass Amankona, Dayton
David Graydon, Saint Louis
Devon Fishcher, VCU
Defenders
Taylor Washington, George Mason
Anthony Manning, Saint Louis
Dennis Castillo, VCU
Goalkeeper?
Steffen Kraus, George Mason
All-Rookie Team
Matt Reinikka, Davidson
Dillon Nino, Dayton
Lance Gasper, Dayton
Henning Dirks, George Mason
Alain Sargent, George Mason
Nils Leifhelm, Rhode Island
Andre Rivers-Hardware, Saint Louis
Patrick Sarr, Saint Louis?Rafael
Andrade Santos, VCU
Pierre Gardan, VCU?
Jorge Herranz, VCU
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