Dowling Picked To Reclaim The Crown

Central Islip, NY - The Dowling College Golden Lions have been selected to reclaim East Coast Conference title in the 2008 season as voted on by the league's coaches in the preseason poll.  Dowling posted a 6-0-3 ECC record last season and went on to capture the Post Season title as well.  They continued to dominate through the NCAA Northeast Regional but ended their season at the NCAA Quarterfinals to finish with a 17-3-3 overall record.  The NYIT Bears (5-2-2 ECC, 14-4-3 overall) claimed the #2 spot in the poll with the Bridgeport Purple Knights (6-1-2 ECC, 10-5-5 overall) coming in at #3.  Both NYIT and Bridgeport earned berths to the NCAA Regional last season.

Senior forward Michael Frimpong-Manso of Mercy College garnered Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors.  He started in fifteen games for the Mavericks last season and led the league with 1.47 points per game.  The ECC All-Conference First Teamer finished the season with 9 goals and 4 assists for a total of 22 points and earned a spot on the Daktronics All-Northeast Region Second Team.

Senior Josue Cruz of NYIT was tabbed the 2008 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.  Cruz appeared in 20 games for the Bears with 19 starts and tallied an assist on the season.

2008 Men's Soccer Preseason Poll

1.  Dowling
2. NYIT
3. Bridgeport
4. Molloy
5. Mercy
6. C.W. Post
7. Queens
8. Concordia
9. St. Thomas Aquinas

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Michael Frimpong-Manso, SR, F, Mercy

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Josue Cruz, SR, D, NYIT