UConn Men’s Soccer Picked To Win American

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – UConn has been chosen to win the American Athletic Conference men’s soccer title in a vote of the league’s eight head coaches, the conference announced on Monday.

The Huskies received two first-place votes en route to 44 total points, followed by Tulsa (three first-place votes, 43 points) and USF (three first-place votes, 41 points). All three teams are receiving votes in the preseason NSCAA rankings released on Aug. 3.

SMU (31 points) placed fourth in the preseason voting, followed by Memphis in fifth with 23 points, UCF in sixth with 20 points, Cincinnati (14 points) in seventh and Temple (eight points) in eighth.

UConn, USF and SMU led the 2015 Preseason American All-Conference Team with three selections each among the 14 members. Cincinnati senior John Manga was chosen as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Tulsa senior Bradley Bourgeois was tabbed Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. USF junior Spasoje Stefanovic is the preseason pick for Goalkeeper of the Year. Manga had a league leading 22 points last season while Bourgeois was a 2014 First-Team All-Conference selection. Stefanovic was selected as the American Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Year in 2014.

The 2015 men’s soccer season begins on Friday, August 28. Conference play starts Saturday, October 2.

2015 American Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Preseason Honors

Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
*John Manga, Cincinnati

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Bradley Bourgeois, Tulsa

Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Spasoje Stefanovic, USF

Preseason All-Conference Team
GK – Spasoje Stefanovic, USF
*B – Cheikh Stephane Coly, UConn
*B – Jake Nerwinski, UConn
B – Jordan Cano, SMU
*B – Bradley Bourgeois, Tulsa
M – Kwame Awuah, UConn
*M – Lindo Mfeka, USF
M – John Lujano, SMU
M – Jared Martinelli, Temple
M – Ray Saari, Tulsa
*F – John Manga, Cincinnati
*F – Hector Cantele, Memphis
F – Eduardo Maceira, USF
F – Idi Camara, SMU

[*] Denotes unanimous selection

Ties are not broken