Temple University Athletics
Men's Soccer Tied For Fourth In Preseason A-10 Coaches' Poll; Calafiore Named To Preseason All-Conference Team
8.10.11 | Men's Soccer
Owls open 2011 season Sept. 3 at home against Lafayette
PHILADELPHIA- After reaching the Atlantic 10 Tournament last fall, the preseason A-10 coaches' poll has Temple men's soccer finishing the 2011 campaign in a fourth place tie with the Fordham Rams, which would yield the Owls their third conference tournament appearance in four years. Charlotte has been selected to repeat as the regular season champion, while Saint Louis and 2010 conference champion Xavier have been tabbed second and third respectively.
In the same release, the conference also announced its preseason All-Conference team. A year removed from being named first team All-Conference after tying for the team lead in scoring with 14 points (five goals and four assists), junior midfielder Cody Calafiore has been selected by the coaches to the All-Conference squad.
The Owls closed out last season 8-9-2, 6-3-0 in conference play, earning a date with Xavier in the Atlantic 10 Tournament as the No. 3 seed. This season, Temple returns eight starters including 2010 A-10 Honorable Mention senior Tyler Witmer, who tied with Calafiore for the team lead in scoring last season. Sophomore Vaughn Spurrier also returns for the Owls after having 10 points and being selected to last season's conference All-Rookie team. Head coach Dave MacWilliams returns for his 12th season as the Owls open their regular season slate at home against Lafayette on Sept. 3.
Rounding out the rest of the coaches' voting, St. Bonaventure is selected to place sixth, three-time Champion Dayton is seventh and 2010 runner-up La Salle is eighth. Massachusetts is ninth, followed by Duquesne, Richmond, Rhode Island, George Washington and Saint Joseph's.
Charlotte is ranked 23rd in the College Soccer News preseason poll and returns nine starters among 20 letterwinners from last season's squad that went 13-5-1 overall and 8-1 in league play. Head Coach Jeremy Gunn welcomes back a league-best five preseason All-Conference picks, including reigning A-10 Defensive Player of the Year Charles Rodriguez and reigning A-10 Midfielder and Rookie of the Year Tyler Gibson; along with a pair of All-Atlantic 10 picks from a year ago in midfielder Donnie Smith and defender Isaac Cowles.
The six-team A-10 Men's Soccer Championship will be held Nov. 10-13 at Robert R. Hermann Stadium on the campus of Saint Louis University.
2011 Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer Predicted Order of Finish (2010 overall record/A-10 record in parentheses)
1. Charlotte (13-5-1/8-1)
2. Saint Louis (9-7-3/5-3-1)
3. Xavier (10-7-4/5-4-0)
4. Fordham (10-8/5-4)
Temple (8-9-2/6-3-0)
6. St. Bonaventure (10-8-1/5-3-1)
7. Dayton (7-8-3/3-4-2)
8. La Salle (9-7-3/6-2-1)
9. Massachusetts (5-5-8/4-2-3)
10. Duquesne (8-7-3/4-4-1)
11. Richmond (5-12-1/4-5-0)
12. Rhode Island (3-13-2/1-7-1)
13. George Washington (3-15/1-8)
14. Saint Joseph's (2-15/1-8)
PRESEASON A-10 Men's Soccer All-Conference Team
Simon Gomez, Duquesne, SO, F
Evan James, Charlotte, SR, F
Seth Rudolph, George Washington, JR, F
Luke Spencer, Xavier, JR, F
Cody Calafiore, Temple, JR, MF
Tyler Gibson, Charlotte, SO, MF
Donnie Smith, Charlotte, JR, MF
Charles Rodriguez, Charlotte, SR, D
Jack Pearson, Dayton, SR, D
Isaac Cowles, Charlotte, SR, D
Ryan Meara, Fordham, SR, GK
