Aug. 25, 2010

LANCASTER, PA – Johns Hopkins, the defending Centennial Conference Champion, is the coaches’ favorite in the conference’s annual preseason poll of head coaches. The Blue Jays garnered seven of 10 first place votes (coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team) and 78 points. Muhlenberg received two first place nods and a total of 73 points to come in second. Swarthmore is in third with 66 points, followed by Dickinson (65) and Franklin & Marshall (50) to round out the top five. Gettysburg is sixth in the poll (36), followed by McDaniel (32), Haverford (28), Ursinus (17) and Washington (12).

Hopkins went 16-4-3 last season, claiming its record eighth Centennial Conference title and advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16. The Blue Jays’ season ended in double-overtime to the eventual national champion Messiah Falcons. Eight starters, including three of the top four scorers, return from last season’s campaign. Leading the way offensively, will be senior and 2009 NSCAA Third Team All-American, Scott Bukoski (Sagamore, MA/Bourne). Last season, Bukoski led the conference in goals and points for the third consecutive year and enters this season ranked fifth in school history in career points (100) and goals (44).

Also returning are All-Centennial selections Evan Kleinberg (South Orange, NJ/Columbia), Kevin Hueber (High Bridge, NJ/Voorhees) and Corey Adams (Cedar Grove, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) and All-Mid-Atlantic pick Ravi Gill (Morganville, NJ/Marlboro). Kleinberg finished second on the team in points (14), goals (5) and assists (4) last season. Hueber and Adams lead a defense that led the Centennial Conference in goals against average (0.63) and shutouts (12) last season. Gill, in his first season as a starter in goal, posted a conference best goal against average (0.59), save percentage (.863) and shutouts (12).

Hopkins, which is ranked 10th in NSCAA Preseason Poll, opens the season with the annual Blue Jay Classic Labor Day weekend. JHU will face Buffalo State at 7:00 pm on Saturday, September 4 in the season opener. Hopkins will then take on Catholic, also at 7:00 pm, on Sunday, September 5. The Blue Jays open Centennial Conference play on Saturday, September 18 against Swarthmore.

2010 Centennial Conference Men’s Soccer Poll
School (1st Place Votes) - Points
1. Johns Hopkins (7) - 78
2. Muhlenberg (2) - 73
3. Swarthmore - 66
4. Dickinson (1) - 65
5. Franklin & Marshall - 50
6. Gettysburg - 36
7. McDaniel - 32
8. Haverford - 28
9. Ursinus - 17
10. Washington - 12

HopkinsSports.com Men's Soccer

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