Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University men's soccer team was eighth in the 2013 Northeast Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll as announced by the league offices Tuesday. The Colonials return eight starters and 15 letterwinners to the pitch in 2013.
Defending NEC Tournament champion Fairleigh Dickinson received seven of eight first-place votes to earn the top spot in the poll. Central Connecticut is second in the poll while Saint Francis University received one first-place vote and is third. Sacred Heart sits fourth followed by Bryant, St. Francis Brooklyn, LIU Brooklyn and Robert Morris.
Hardly left with a bare cupboard following the 2012 season, RMU returns nine of its top-10 scorers. That group is highlighted by senior Miro Cabrilo (Hamilton, Ontario / Glendale) who topped the squad with 12 points on a balanced ledger of four goals and four assists as a junior. Sophomore Bruce Cullen (Pickering, Ontario / Pine Ridge) returns as well following an impressive rookie debut in which he scored four goals and finished second on the team with nine points.
A corps of game-proven letterwinners joins the top two scorers as a total of 15 players who earned letters are featured on the roster. Senior Daniel Calabretta (Brampton, Ontario / St. Marguerite d'Youville) had five points a season ago as a starting forward. He'll likely team up with Cullen on the attack again this season. Senior midfielder Luca Campos (Monaca, Pa. / Center) joins Cabrilo in the midfield after a four-point season as a junior.
Junior Devon Williams (Kingston, Jamaica / St. Georges) scored two goals and had two assists in his sophomore season directing the attack from central midfield while junior midfielder Carl Reid (Kingston, Jamaica / St. Georges) is back as well.
The Colonials open the 2013 campaign Sunday, Sept. 1, at Rider. The home opener will take place Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 4:00 p.m. when Wright State visits North Athletic Complex.
