2003 Men's Soccer Composite Schedules

ROCK HILL, SC – Tusculum College, last season’s regular-season champion, and Wingate University, last year’s Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament champion, share the top spot in the 2003 coaches’ poll, it was announced today by the league office.

In a very tight race, the Pioneers received three first-place votes and 56 total points. The Bulldogs picked up two first-place votes and 56 points overall. Presbyterian College received the other three first-place votes and received 54 total points to finish in third place in the poll.

All three schools placed five players each on the preseason All-SAC team, which was also announced.

Tusculum placed four on the First Team, including forwards Paul Hopkins, who led the conference in goals scored and total scoring last season, and Matt DeMartini, who was third in both categories.

The Bulldogs also had five on the preseason All-SAC team, including forward Robert Dawson, the 2002 SAC Freshman of the Year, and goalkeeper Philip Poole, who had a 1.25 goal against average last season.

Presbyterian’s five preseason All-SAC selections include forward Derek Knapp, midfielder Chris Middendorf and defender Doug Belknap.

Catawba College was picked to finish fourth with 39 points, while Mars Hill College was fifth with 30 points.

The Indians had four preseason All-SAC selections, including midfielder Rodd Hudgins and defender Kenny Crowe on the First Team. The Lions had three representatives on the Second Team, including forward Walter Gay, who was seventh in total scoring last year.

Carson-Newman was picked to finish sixth with 22, edging out Lenoir-Rhyne College with 21 points.

Lenoir-Rhyne had two preseason All-SAC selections in forward Alex Maric and goalkeeper Tom Skora.

Newberry rounds out the poll. The Indians had a pair named to the preseason All-SAC squad in midfielder Brandon Cockrell, a First Team selection, and forward Shawn Liesch.

Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll

2003 Preseason All-SAC
First Team
F - Paul Hopkins, Tusculum
F - Robert Dawson, Wingate
F - Matt DeMartini, Tusculum
F - Derek Knapp, Presbyterian
MF - Gerald Watt, Tusculum
MF - Ross Hudgins, Catawba
MF - Brandon Cockrell, Newberry
MF - Chris Middendorf, Presbyterian
D - Neal Dixon, Tusculum
D - Thomas Szvetitz, Wingate
D - Kenny Crowe, Catawba
D - Doug Belknap, Presbyterian
GK - Philip Poole, Wingate
Second Team
F - Shawn Liesch, Newberry
F - Alex Maric, Lenoir-Rhyne
F - Brennan Regner, Catawba
F - Walter Gay, Mars Hill
MF - Kevin Benfield, Wingate
MF - Trent Weber, Presbyterian
MF - Mo Norman, Catawba
MF - Tommy Dodd, Mars Hill
D - Jonathan Hoyt, Mars Hill
D - Michael Krauth, Presbyterian
D - Sam Petoskey, Wingate
D - Jameson Riner, Tusculum
GK - Tom Skora, Lenoir-Rhyne