NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Aug. 18, 2011) – Bloomfield College and Dominican College have tied for the top spot in the 2011 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll, which was voted upon by the 12 CACC head coaches. The Deacons and Chargers each received 127 points and four first-place votes. Philadelphia University was tabbed third with 113 points and one first-place tally. Five teams were voted first on at least one ballot.

Bloomfield returns 12 players from a 2010 squad that secured the program's first regular-season CACC championship, reached the CACC Tournament Final for the second consecutive season and secured the first NCAA Tournament berth in program history.  Reaching as high as number 13 in the NSCAA national polls and the top spot in the NCAA East Regional rankings, Bloomfield fell to Dominican in a shootout in the CACC championship, and Southern New Hampshire University in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.  Senior forward Terry Gibbs, the leading returning goal scorer in the East Region, returns to the team for the 2011 campaign, as well as second team All-CACC defender Steven Hobart.  Gibbs comes off a junior campaign in which he earned first team All-CACC and second team Daktronics All-East Region status.

Dominican won an exciting 2010 CACC Tournament by earning three penalty kick shootout victories, including a 4-2 shootout triumph over Bloomfield in the title match. Returning first team All-CACC goalkeeper, Brandon Heembrock, was named Tournament MVP after making several spectacular saves during the tournament. The Chargers advanced to the NCAA Division II Regional but fell to Southern Connecticut State, 1-0, in the opening round. DC went 7-2-2 in conference play and welcomes back Alex Rodier and Sony Narro, who both posted All-Conference campaigns last season, including CACC Rookie of the Year accolades for Narro. Rodier was first team All-CACC and was also named to the All-Tournament team. He tallied 21 points on 10 goals and one assists on the season. Heembrock led the conference in saves (11), goals against average (0.81), saves percentage (.874) and shutouts (7).

Philadelphia was chosen third with 113 points and one first-place nod after earning the No. 2 seed in last season’s CACC Tournament. The Rams advanced to the semi-finals before falling in a penalty kick shootout to Dominican. The Rams went 8-2-1 in conference play in 2010 and return five of their top six scorers and their starting goalie. Senior first team All-CACC midfielder Ryan Purnell highlights the returning players after recording seven goals, eight assists and 22 points to rank third in the conference in points. Sophomore midfielder Mark Holman recorded 13 points on five goals and three assists. Sophomore starting goalie Alex Heston is also back after ranking second in the CACC in goals-against average (0.86) and save percentage (.857) as a freshman.  

Wilmington was picked fourth with 110 points and one first-place vote. The Wildcats will be led by All-Conference performer and 2009 All-American, Nick McDonald, who tied for the team lead with 12 points last year with four goals and four assists. Wilmington rebounded from a 0-5 start last season by going 4-1-1 in its next six matches en route to a CACC Tournament appearance. WU earned a home playoff game and the No. 4 seed, but fell to Post University, 2-1, in overtime.

The results of the preseason poll are listed below.