PROVIDENCE, R.I. (November 11, 2011) – The Rutgers men’s soccer program, led by third-year head coach Dan Donigan, was selected to finish fourth in the 2012 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the league announced Monday. The votes were cast by the league’s 15 head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.

The Scarlet Knights received 60 points to place fourth in the preseason poll behind Louisville in third (89), USF in second (90) and projected Red Division winner St. John’s (94). Rutgers was picked to finish sixth in last year’s preseason poll, eventually placing second in the final regular season standings.

Rutgers returns six starters from the 2011 squad, including the top two scorers in sophomore forward Juan Pablo Correa (Montville, N.J.) and junior forward Kene Eze (Sayreville, N.J.). Correa, an All-BIG EAST Rookie Team selection, had a team-high 17 points on six goals and five assists, while Eze tallied 15 points (six goals and three assists). The Scarlet Knights also welcome a highly-touted 13 member recruiting class to join a group that advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

RU opens the 2012 slate with an exhibition against Colgate, the Scarlet Knights’ first round NCAA Tournament opponent in 2011 on Tuesday, Aug. 14 and begins the regular-season campaign on Friday, Aug. 24 at home against Fordham. Visit http://scarletknights.com/soccer-men/schedule/schedule.asp for the complete 2012 schedule.

For the third-straight year, Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. will serve as host for the BIG EAST Championship semifinals (Nov. 9) and final (Nov. 11). First and Second Round games will be held at the campus sites of the highest seeded teams.

2012 BIG EAST MEN’S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL

Red Division                        Points           Overall       BIG EAST          Regular Season Finish

1. St. John’s (6)                   94                   14-7-2         4-5-0                  3rd/BIG EAST Championship title
2. USF (5)                               90                   13-4-4         7-0-2                  1st/regular season title
3. Louisville (4)                    89                   14-7-2         3-4-2                  4th
4. Rutgers                              60                   10-7-4         6-1-2                  2nd
5. Villanova                           59                   8-9-4            3-5-1                  T-5th
6. Cincinnati                          31                   6-11-1         2-7-0                  7th
7. DePaul                               29                   6-11-2         3-5-1                  T-5th
8. Syracuse                           24                   3-12-1         1-7-1                  8th

Blue Division                                               Points         Overall             BIG EAST Regular Season Finish  

1. Connecticut (13)            91                   19-3-3         5-2-2                  3rd
2. Notre Dame (1)              74                   9-5-4            5-3-1                  T-4th
3. Georgetown (1)             72                   10-5-4         5-3-1                  T-4th
4. Marquette                       50                   9-8-2            7-2-0                  1st/regular season title
5. Providence                      42                   11-8-1         5-3-1                  T-4th
6. Seton Hall                         27                   5-11-2         1-8-0                  8th
7. Pittsburgh                        15                   4-13-1         2-7-0                  7th

2012 BIG EAST PRESEASON AWARD WINNERS

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Mamadou Doudou Diouf, Connecticut, F, Jr.

Preseason Co-Defensive Players of the Year
Andrew Farrell, Louisville, B, Jr.
Jimmy Nealis, Georgetown, B, Sr.

Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
*Andre Blake, Connecticut, GK, So.

Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Andre Blake, Connecticut, GK, So.
Carlos Alvarez, Connecticut, M, Sr.
*Mamadou Diouf, Connecticut, F, Jr.
Antonio Aguilar, DePaul, M, Sr.
Ian Christianson, Georgetown, M, Sr.
*Steve Neumann, Georgetown, F, Jr.
Jimmy Nealis, Georgetown, B, Sr.
Andrew Farrell, Louisville, B, Jr.
C. Nortey, Marquette, F, So.
Dillon Powers, Notre Dame, M, Sr.
Ryan Finley, Notre Dame, F, Sr.
Marc Cintron, Providence, M, Sr.
Jack Bennett, St. John’s, M, Sr.
Tim Parker, St. John’s, B, So.
Brenton Griffiths, USF, B, Sr.

*unanimous selection
^ extra member added due to voting ties

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