Lions Picked to Finish Third in Conference
ROCK HILL, S.C.—Mars Hill’s men’s soccer team was picked to finish third in the South Atlantic Conference by the league’s coaches in a poll released Tuesday. Three Lions were named to the Preseason All-SAC Team.
ROCK HILL, S.C.—Mars Hill's men's soccer team was picked to finish third in the South Atlantic Conference by the league's coaches in a poll released Tuesday. Three Lions were named to the Preseason All-SAC Team.
The Lions earned 98 points in the poll and received three first-place votes. Forward Felipe Ferraro, midfielder Alex Mullen and defender Gregg Munn were named to the Preseason All-SAC First Team. MHU is coming off their first outright SAC title and their second-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Mars Hill opens play Friday, Sep. 6 with a home match against 10th-ranked Flager at 7:00 p.m. in Meares Stadium. Conference play opens Sep. 14 with a match at Newberry.
Ferraro earned All-Southeast Region honors from Daktronics and the NSCAA in addition to being a First-Team All-SAC performer last season. The senior finished second in the conference with eight assists and scored six goals. He was a Second-Team All-SAC selection in 2011.
Mullen became the first All-American in Mars Hill men's soccer history, earning Honorable Mention honors from Daktronics. The midfielder led the Lions in scoring with 27 points, tallying 10 goals and seven assists. He was a First-Team All-SAC selection and earned All-Region honors from Daktronics and the NSCAA.
Munn helped anchor the Lion defense on his way to a First-Team All-SAC selection. The senior also notched three assists, two of which came during postseason play. Munn excelled off the field as well, earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors.
Mars Hill was the only team with three first-team selections on the Preseason All-SAC team.
Other returning starters for Mars Hill include defenders Tom Allison and Corey Roberts. Each player helped make up a back line that allowed a stingy 0.85 goals per game last season. Allison and Roberts each scored one goal, while Roberts added an assist.
Following a run to last-season's NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship Quarterfinals, Wingate was voted as the favorite to win the 2013 conference title. The Bulldogs received eight first-place votes.
Lincoln Memorial placed second with one first-place vote. The Railsplitters are led by SAC Player of the Year Mario Pinto.
The complete SAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll and Preseason All-SAC Team is listed below.
2013 SAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
Place. Team- Points (First-Place Votes)
1. Wingate- 114 (8)
2. Lincoln Memorial- 104 (1)
3. Mars Hill- 98 (3)
4. Carson-Newman- 93
5. Coker- 75
6. Tusculum- 71
7. Anderson- 67
8. Queens- 48
9. Catawba- 47
10. Lenoir-Rhyne 41
11. Newberry- 21
12. Brevard- 13
2013 SAC Men's Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team
Position- Name, School
First Team
F – Mario Pinto, LMU
F – Felipe Ferraro, MHU
F – Lars Zimmerman, AU
F – Corey Faughnan, CAT
M – Alex Mullen, MHU
M – Gui Andrade, WU
M – SindreWelo, C-N
M – Thiago Andrade, QU
D – Gregg Munn, MHU
D – Tom Holland, L-R
D – Callum Home, LMU
D – Victor Tozelli, WU
GK – Rumwald Le Gueval, C-N
Second Team
F – Peron Da Silva, WU
F – Erick Suarez, QU
F – Joao Pedro Dowsley, C-N
F – Daniel Jackson, COK
M – Roberto Pimentel, TC
M – Liam Gillesphey, WU
M – Martin Brain, AU
M –Lucas Siqueira, C-N
D – Domhnall Minogue, CAT
D – Fernando Bedoya, COK
D – Matias Rubio, TC
D – Akeem Prendes, COK
GK – Marcel Barwanietz, LMU
