RICHMOND, Va. — In search of its fourth straight NCAA Tournament berth, the Elon University men's soccer team has been slated to finish fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association, as the league announced its annual preseason poll Monday. Elon (43 points) was one point shy of third-place College of William & Mary (44), and behind University of Delaware (first, 58) and Drexel University (49).
Elon went 15-5-3 last year in winning its third consecutive Southern Conference championship and finishing the year ranked No. 22 in the nation. The Phoenix returns six starters and its two leading goal scorers in senior forward Jason Waterman and James Brace.
Following Elon in the poll was the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Northeastern University, Hofstra University, College of Charleston and James Madison University.
MORE ELON SPORTS: Women's soccer tabbed eighth in CAA preseason poll
Delaware and Drexel each received four first-place votes, while Northeastern got one.
Drexel won both the CAA regular season and tournament championship in 2013. The Dragons, William & Mary and Delaware all made the NCAA Tournament last season.
Elon opens its 2014 campaign Aug. 29 in Durham against Stetson University. The Phoenix will play Aug. 19 at the University of South Carolina and Aug. 23 at home against North Carolina State University in exhibition action.
2014 CAA men's soccer preseason coaches poll
1. Delaware (4 first-place votes) 582. Drexel (4 first-place votes) 49
3. William & Mary 44
4. Elon 43
5. UNCW 39
6. Northeastern (1 first-place vote) 33
7. Hofstra 29
8. College of Charleston 17
9. James Madison 12
(Teams received 8 points for a first-place vote, 7 for second, etc. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.)