SALEM, VA (August 30, 2007)—Hampden-Sydney's soccer team has been selected fifth in the 2007 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Poll, which was released early this morning. Roanoke garnered six first place votes to secure the top spot in the poll, while Virginia Wesleyan and defending conference champion Lynchburg each received two first place votes to round out the top three.

The Tigers return eight probable starters and two 2006 All-ODAC performers, including 2006 second team honoree David Burley (Mount Pleasant, SC/Wando), who led the conference in goals (13) and points (29) as a freshman one year ago. Goalkeeper Ben Marchetti (Richmond, VA/Benedictine) also returns between the pipes for H-SC, and already sits in third place on the Hampden-Sydney all-time list for career shutouts with ten.

Roanoke, last season’s ODAC tournament top seed, returns the 2006 ODAC Player of the Year, Eric Eversole. The senior midfielder led the squad with 19 points on nine goals and three assists. Lynchburg and Virginia Wesleyan both made it through to the 2006 NCAA Division III Tournament, the latter school doing so by virtue of an at-large bid.

Hampden-Sydney will kick off the 2007 season this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 1-2, as they host the 2007 Arby's/Hampden-Sydney Soccer Classic at Miller Field. The tournament will feature the Tigers, Lynchburg, and two teams from Pennsylvania, Alvernia (out of Reading) and Ursinus (from Collegeville). The Tigers will start things off with a Saturday, noon kickoff versus Ursinus, and will conclude the tournament with a 2:30pm match against Alvernia on Sunday.

2007 ODAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll

(#) Denotes first place votes

    -www.hsc.edu/athletics-