Wabash was picked to finish seventh in the final 2010 North Coast Athletic Conference men's soccer standings in the annual coaches poll, released Monday morning by the league office.
The Little Giants received one of the nine first-place votes and a total of 32 points. Ohio Wesleyan topped the poll with a total of 79 points and seven first-place votes. Kenyon received one first-place vote and a total of 72 points to place second. Hiram was third (59 points), followed by Denison (55), and Oberlin. Allegheny finished one point ahead of Wabash with 33. Wittenberg (24) and Wooster (11) completed the preseason rankings.
The top-eight goal scorers for last year's Wabash team return in 2010. Junior Femi Oluyedun led the Little Giants with nine goals and two assists in 2009. Junior Dylan Andrew added five goals and nine assists, while senior defender Mark Babcock chipped in seven goals and an assist. Oluyedun, Andrew, and Babcock were joined by sophomore midfielder Ryan Fier on the 2009 All-NCAC soccer team. Fier started all 19 games as a freshman with three goals and five assists. Ian Kelly, Austin Jennings, Allan Swan, and Phil Rosborough combined for 13 additional goals for a Wabash squad that produced 40 total goals — the fourth-highest single season total in school history and most goals since 1995.
Head Coach Roberto Giannini spoke about the high expectations the team has heading into the 2010 season after narrowly missing one of four places in the 2009 NCAC Men's Soccer Tournament.
Wabash finished 9-9-1 last season, posting the most victories since 1998. The Little Giants were 4-5 in NCAC play last season.
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