TOWSON, MD- On Tuesday, the Landmark Conference released its men’s soccer 2014 preseason poll. The Juniata Eagles were selected seventh with a total of 26 points.
Catholic University secured five first place votes on the way
to 72 total points to lead the poll. Two-time defending champion
Susquehanna University notched three first place votes and 64
points to come in second while Drew sits third in the poll with 55
points and the remaining first place vote. Landmark newcomer
Elizabethtown College earned the fourth spot with 44 points.
Catholic (12-6-2, 5-1-1) wrapped up the 2013 regular season
as the No. 1 seed in last year's Landmark tournament before falling
short in the semifinals to Juniata.
The University of Scranton (10-3-4, 3-3-1) was picked fifth in
the poll with 35 points while the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
(7-8-1, 4-3) finished sixth with 30 points. Goucher College was
selected eighth with 16 points. Moravian College wrapped up the
poll with nine points.
Juniata is coming off its most successful season in program
history last year as the team finished 13-6-3 overall and 3-3-1 in
the Landmark to secure the fourth and final spot in the tournament.
Among its notable victories were a 1-0 overtime win over the Royals
for the first time in the history of the program and a 3-1 upset
win over Catholic in the Landmark semifinals. The team also
qualified for the ECAC South Tournament for the first time
ever.
The Eagles begin their 2014 season on August 29-30 at the
Frostburg State Tournament. The home opener will be September 2 at
4 p.m. against St. Vincent at Winton Hill Field.