PRINCETON, WV - The Davis & Elkins men's soccer team has been voted to finish third by the league's coaches in 2012.
After registering a WVIAC Championship under the direction of first-year head coach Chris Grassie in 2011, the University of Charleston has been selected to win the 2012 WVIAC Championship as voted on by the league's coaches.
The Golden Eagles claimed the top spot in the preseason poll by recording 98 total points. UC was first on eight ballots while registering two second-place votes. West Virginia Wesleyan was second in the voting, tallying 88 points. The Bobcats corralled the other two first-place votes by the league's coaches.
Davis & Elkins was selected to finish third in the WVIAC, amassing 79 points. The Senators had one second-place vote and seven third-place votes. Wheeling Jesuit, which made it to the WVIAC Championship game a season ago, was selected fourth with 73 points. The Cardinals earned one second-place vote and two third-place nods on the ballots.
Seton Hill was chosen fifth with 59 points. The Griffins had two fourth-place votes by the league's voting panel. Shepherd was sixth after totaling 48 points. Pitt-Johnstown was selected seventh after tallying 33 points.
Alderson-Broaddus and Concord tied for eighth after both received 29 points on the ballots. Ohio Valley rounded out the voting with 14 total points.
UC returns first-team all-region selection and three-time All-American Rob Vincent to the pitch. Vincent registered nine goals and eight assists a season ago. Three of his scores were of the game-winning variety. Sean Teepen returns between the pipes for the Golden Eagles. He gave up just 18 goals on the season for a 0.92 goals against average. Teepen recorded 50 saves and had a .735 save percentage.
WVWC will be led by first-team all-conference performer Matthew Brown and second-team honoree Daniel Smee. A year ago, Brown guided the Bobcats' offense with a team-high six goals and a team-best 16 points. He had two game-winning goals. Smee was second on the team in goals with four and third in points with nine.
D&E boasts sophomore Dan Savory in the midfield and defensive third of the pitch. As a rookie, he earned honorable mention all-conference accolades. He started all 19 matches and totaled five points, coming on a goal and three assists. Keeper Moises Oseguera had a 0.75 goals against average while posting a 6-2-1 record between the pipes.
WJU returns the WVIAC Freshman of the Year and first-team all-conference selection in Ignacio Fernandez. He, alongside first-team all-WVIAC honoree Victor Picchio will continue to provide tremendous scoring opportunities for each other and the rest of the Cardinals. Fernandez accounted for a team-high 14 points on five goals and four assists. Three of his tallies were game winners. Picchio was second on the team with 12 points. He registered five goals and two assists.
SHU has two all-conference student-athletes returning to its line-up in Matt Luchetti and Andrew Starcevic. Luchetti, a second-team all-conference performer, started 16 matches and totaled nine points (three goals, three assists) while Starcevic garnered a team-best 17 points on eight goals and two assists. Two scores by the honorable mention all-conference player were game-winning goals.
SU boasts second-team all-conference forward Shane Lowery. In 2011, Lowery amassed 18 points on eight goals and two assists. Two of his goals were of the game-winning variety. Robel Desta will also help the Rams and should make a powerful impact from his defender position.
UPJ should have a solid squad returning this season. The Mountain Cats boast three-time all-WVIAC selection Derik Swope and two-time all-WVIAC honoree Zeke Buchta. The duo shared team-high honors in points scored. Both registered six goals and four assists for 16 points. Swope, however, had four goals go for match clinchers.
A-B will be guided by 2011 first-team all-WVIAC standout Jose Noriega and Satwant Dhaliwal. In 2011, Noriega registered first-team all-conference honors after posting 16 points on seven goals and two assists. Three goals were game winners. Dhaliwal totaled two goals and two assists for the Battlers.
CU returns Tyler Farrar. He will be looked upon to control the game from his midfield spot. Richard Vincent will be counted on from his forward position to energize the offense under the direction of head coach Steve Barrett.
OVU's duo that will lead the Fighting Scots this year comes in the form of Dalton Turner and Kevin Rivera. Turner started 14 matches in 2011 and registered three goals. Rivera tied for the team lead with three assists and was fourth in points.
Rank |
Team (First-place votes) | Points |
| 1. | Charleston (8) | 98 |
| 2. | West Virginia Wesleyan (2) | 88 |
| 3. | Davis & Elkins | 79 |
| 4. | Wheeling Jesuit | 73 |
| 5. | Seton Hill | 59 |
| 6. | Shepherd | 48 |
| 7 | Pitt-Johnstown | 33 |
| 8t. | Alderson-Broaddus | 29 |
| 8t. | Concord | 29 |
| 10 | Ohio Valley | 14 |