ANNVILLE, Pa. – 2013 regular season top seed Eastern University has been selected by the Freedom Conference men’s soccer coaches to take home the conference title in 2014. The Eagles earned 47 total points including five first place votes to top the poll ahead of second place finisher Misericordia University.
Eastern finished the 2013 season with a 14-4-1 record including a 5-1-1 mark in the Freedom Conference, claiming the top seed in the conference tournament. The Eagles however were upset in the first round by Fairleigh Dickinson University at Florham 1-0 in the first round of the conference tournament. FDU-Florham was selected fourth in this year’s poll earning 30 points.
Eric Giovagnoli led Eastern in goals, assists and points in 2013 and will look to lead the Eagles to another solid year in 2014. The junior netted 12 goals, dished out seven assists and tallied 31 points to pace the Eagles in 2013.
Misericordia just narrowly edged 2013 Freedom Conference Champions, King’s College for the second spot in the poll. The Cougars tallied 41 points including a single first place vote while King’s earned 40 points and was tabbed with two first place votes.
2014 Freedom Conference men’s soccer play gets underway on Friday, August 29th.
2014 Freedom Men's Soccer Preseason Poll:
1) Eastern 47 (5)
2) Misericordia 41 (1)
3) King's 40 (2)
4) FDU 30
5) DeSales 27
6) Manhattanville 19
7) Wilkes 13
8) Delaware Valley 7
() Denotes first place votes