ROCK HILL, SC – Carson-Newman College, coming off its second consecutive league championship, is the favorite to win its third straight South Atlantic Conference title in a vote of the league coaches, it was announced today by the league office.

The Eagles received four first-place votes and 58 total points. The Eagles also led the way with six named to the preseason All-Conference team, including returning SAC Player of the Year Tyler Baldock, a junior All-American goalkeeper. Joining Baldock on the first team are midfielder Brad Cobbs and defender Sean Guiseppi.

The Eagles finished the 2004 regular season undefeated and were ranked No. 1 in the country late in the season. They lost to league rival Tusculum twice in a week to end the season, first in the championship game of the Food Lion SAC Tournament, then in the NCAA Tournament.

Catawba College, which finished second last year in the final standings and lost to eventual tournament champion Tusculum in overtime in the tournament semifinals, is picked to finish second in 2005. Catawba received one first-place vote and 54 total points. The Indians placed four on the preseason All-Conference team.

Preseason first-team selections Gareth Turnbull, Zay-Zay Gilewala and midfielder Nathan Zuzga led the Catawba offense in 2004, combining for 44 goals scored. Defender Kenny Crowe also was named to the first team.

The Tusculum Pioneers, who finished the 2004 season ranked sixth in the final national NSCAA/adidas coaches poll, received two first-place votes and 53 total points. The Pioneers placed four on the preseason All-Conference team, with midfielder Gerald Watt the only first-team selection.

Wingate University received the other first-place vote and the Bulldogs picked up 40 total points for a fourth-place finish in the poll. Wingate placed four on the preseason All-Conference squad, including forward Benj Bostic, who led the conference in goals per match last year with 1.11 per match. Joining Bostic on the first team are midfielder James Lavery and defender Ben Clark. Robert Dawson, who led the SAC in assists per match with .64, was named to the second team.

Presbyterian College received 29 total points to finish in fifth in the coaches poll. The Blue Hose placed two on the preseason All-Conference team, with forward Trent Weber named to the first team.

Newberry is sixth in the poll with 22 points. Defender Miles Childers was named to the first team preseason All-Conference team.

Lenoir-Rhyne College, under first-year coach Adrian Blewitt, is seventh in the poll with 20 points. The Bears had a pair of selections to the preseason All-Conference second team in forward Nate Whitehurst and goalie Jonathan Sandlin.

Mars Hill College rounds out the preseason poll. Daniel Waymont, Ryan Minor and William Dolbeer were all named to the preseason All-Conference second team.

The 2005 season opens Thursday, August 25 with league favorite Carson-Newman hosting Cumberland. Mars Hill, Presbyterian and Wingate open up on Friday, August 26. The 2005 Food Lion SAC Men’s Soccer Tournament will culminate with the semifinals and finals at Wingate University in Wingate, N.C., November 4-5.

2005 SAC MEN’S SOCCER COACHES POLL
1. Carson-Newman   58 (4) 
2. Catawba         54 (1) 
3. Tusculum        53 (2) 
4. Wingate         40 (1) 
5. Presbyterian    29 
6. Newberry        22 
7. Lenoir-Rhyne    20 
8. Mars Hill       12 
(First place votes in parenthesis) 

2005 Preseason All-SAC
FIRST TEAM
F – Gareth Turnbull, Catawba
F – Zay-Zay Gilewala, Catawba
F – Trent Weber, Presbyterian
F – Benj Bostic, Wingate
MF – Brad Cobbs, Carson-Newman
MF – Nathan Zuzga, Catawba
MF – Gerald Watt, Tusculum
MF – James Lavery, Wingate
D – Sean Guiseppi, Carson-Newman
D – Kenny Crowe, Catawba
D – Ben Clark, Wingate
D – Miles Childers, Newberry
GK – Tyler Baldock, Carson-Newman
SECOND TEAM
F – Nate Whitehurst, Lenoir-Rhyne
F – Daniel Waymont, Mars Hill
F – Tony Prisco, Tusculum
F – Robert Dawson, Wingate
MF – Mark O’Dea, Carson-Newman
MF – Carlos Maqueda, Carson-Newman
MF – Brandon Tucker, Presbyterian
MF – Ryan Minor, Mars Hill
D – William Dolbeer, Mars Hill
D – Richard Moodie, Carson-Newman
D – Jay Harris, Tusculum
D – Matt Cuthbert, Tusculum
GK – Jonathan Sandlin, Lenoir-Rhyne