RICHARDSON, Texas –– The Howard Payne University men's soccer program was picked to finish eighth in the 2010 American Southwest Conference pre-season poll, it was announced by the ASC office on Wednesday after a vote of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
The Yellow Jackets finished 6th in the ASC standings last season with a 9-8-1 overall record and 8-4-1. The team also made the program's first appearance in the ASC post-season tournament in only there fourth year of competition.
Howard Payne will return a big portion of last year's team headed up by All-Region forward Jaime Benitez along with 2nd team All-Conference forward Shane Cazad and defender Paul Deets.
After three exhibition matches, the Jackets will open the regular season on September 2nd at home against Huston-Tillotson University.
The 2010 ASC season – the 15th in league history – begins as early as September 1. The six-team, single elimination ASC tournament is slated for November 5-7 at the site of the regular season champion and an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship will be on the line.
Link to full ASC pre-season article
2010 ASC PRESEASON MEN’S SOCCER POLL
[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors]
Team (first place votes) Points 2009 Record
1. Hardin-Simmons (12) 362 12-3-6, 8-1-3 ASC (2nd)
2. Mary Hardin-Baylor (9) 349 14-4-1, 11-2-0 ASC (1st)
3. Texas-Tyler (2) 305 6-7-4, 6-3-4 ASC (7th)
4. Ozarks 293 12-5-3, 8-3-2 ASC (3rd)
5. Mississippi College (2) 284 12-4-4, 7-3-3 ASC (T4th)
6. Texas-Dallas (1) 252 9-7-3, 6-6-1 ASC (9th)
7. Schreiner (1) 236 10-5-3, 7-3-3 ASC (T4th)
8. Howard Payne 222 9-8-1, 8-4-1 ASC (6th)
9. Texas Lutheran 163 4-11-2, 4-7-2 ASC (10th)
10. East Texas Baptist 160 6-7-2, 6-5-1 ASC (8th)
11. LeTourneau 117 6-8-4, 3-7-3 ASC (11th)
12. Concordia Texas 85 3-12-2, 1-10-2 ASC (12th)
13. McMurry (1) 66 3-11-3, 0-10-3 ASC (13th)
14. Louisiana College 46 1-18-0, 1-12-0 ASC (14th)