1998 Men's and Women's Little East Conference Preseason Polls

Plymouth State, Keene State Expected to Battle for Little East Soccer Crowns

GORHAM, Maine  --  The battle for supremacy in the Little East Conference?s men's and women?s soccer 
races this season is expected to take place in the Granite State as the Plymouth (N.H.) State College 
Panthers and the Keene (N.H.) State College Owls have been tabbed by the coaches as the preseason 
favorites for the titles.

The Panthers, the defending men's champions, got the nod from the conference?s eight head coaches by 
a two-point margin over their in-state rivals. Plymouth State received five first place votes and a 
total of 55 points while Keene State picked up two first place votes and 53 total points.

The two rivals tied on the women?s side in the coaches? poll as each received three first place votes 
and 57 total points.

Western Connecticut, the defending women?s champion, is expected to make it a three-way race on both 
sides.  The Colonials women?s side picked up two first place votes and 54 points while the men 
collected one first place vote and 49 points.

Keene State travels to Plymouth for a men?s and women?s doubleheader on September 26, the first date 
for conference play.  Other key match-ups between the expected top three include Plymouth State and 
Western Connecticut challenging each other on October 3, and Keene State and Western Connecticut 
getting together the weekend of Oct. 24-25.

In the men?s race, only nine points separate the fourth through eighth place teams according to the 
coaches.  Eastern Connecticut, UMass Boston, Rhode Island College,  UMass Dartmouth and Southern Maine 
are expected to stage a dogfight behind the top three.
	
Eastern Connecticut is a solid fourth place pick on the women?s side.  UMass Dartmouth and Southern 
Maine are separated by just one point, followed by Rhode Island College and UMass Boston.


1998 Little East Conference Preseason Soccer Polls

        Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
1)	Plymouth State	        (5)	55
2)	Keene State	        (2)	53
3)	Western Connecticut	(1)	49
4)	Eastern Connecticut		32
5)	UMass Boston		        27
6)	Rhode Island College		26
7)	UMass Dartmouth		        24
8)	Southern Maine	  	        23

(first place votes in parentheses)

 
        Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1)	Plymouth State	       (3)	57
	Keene State	       (3)	57
3)	Western Connecticut    (2)	54
4)	Eastern Connecticut		40
5)	UMass Dartmouth		        28
6)	Southern Maine		        27
7)	Rhode Island College		16
8)	UMass Boston		         9

(first place votes in parentheses)