Somerset, N.J. – The Robert Morris University men's soccer team was selected to finish in a three-way tie for seventh-place according to the 2011 Northeast Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll. Monmouth University, the two-time defending NEC champions, were the unanimous favorite to win the league for a third year in a row.

Fairleigh Dickinson is second in the poll with Sacred Heart third and Saint Francis (Pa.) fourth as the coaches' favorites to earn NEC playoff bids. Long Island and Mount St. Mary's were tied for fifth with Robert Morris, Quinnipiac and St. Francis (N.Y.) coming in a three-way lock at seventh. Central Connecticut State is 10^th and Bryant rounds out the poll at 11^th.

Robert Morris brings an experienced lineup back from a squad that posted a record of 9-7-2 overall and 5-3-2 in Northeast Conference games in 2010. Now in his 15^th season at the helm of the Colonials soccer program, Bill Denniston returns eight starters from a team that featured seven underclassmen in the starting lineup last year.

Offensively, any one of four RMU freshmen could have been the NEC Rookie of the Year last season. Sophomore Daniel Calabretta (Brampton, Ontario / St. Marguerite d'Youville) earned that honor with nine points (four goals, one assist). His numbers were matched by classmate Miro Cabrilo (Hamilton, Ontario / Glendale Secondary) as four of the top-six scorers a season ago were rookies. Prince Samuels (Saint Catherine, Jamaica / Kingston College) and Luca Campos (Monaca, Pa. / Center), both sophomores, finished with eight points (two goals, four assists) and seven points (three goals, one assist), respectively.

Junior goalkeeper Toba Bolaji (Vaughn, Ontario / Maple) was a NSCAA North Atlantic All-Region selection and earned All-NEC Second Team honors after posting six shutouts and a 1.02 goals against average as a sophomore. The back four remains intact from a season ago in the form of seniors Max Shinsky (York, Pa. / West York Area), Justin Turnley (Beaver, Pa. / Beaver), Matt Sheibley (Dillsburg, Pa. / Northern) and Matt Griffin (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park) while redshirt-junior defenders Dan Braun (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Thomas Jefferson) and Tyler Gardner (Whitefish, Mont. / Whitefish) are both available to Denniston following injuries last season.

A talented rookie class of five features 19-year old Jamaicans Devon Williams (Kingston, Jamaica / St. Georges) and Carl Reid (Kingston, Jamaica / St. Georges). Williams has one cap with the Jamaican National Team and five appearances with the U-20 squad. Reid is also a member of the U-20 team.

Denniston's 2011 squad will have a bevy of young offensive talent while an experienced corps returns defensively as the Colonials look to return to the NEC playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Colonials open the season Friday, August 26 when they host Pitt in a 4:00 p.m. game at North Athletic Complex.