Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men’s soccer team has been picked to finish seventh in the American Southwest Conference in the league’s annual Preseason Coaches Poll. The Cru totaled 218 points in balloting of the league’s coaches and sports information directors. U.T.-Tyler took 23 of the 28 first-place votes and totaled 385 points as the coach’s choice to win the ASC championship. Schreiner University is picked second with 341 total points, Mississippi College grabbed three first-place votes and 322 total points for third place and Hardin-Simmons University and the University of the Ozarks tied for fourth place with 293 total points. HSU also picked up the other two first-place votes. U.T.-Dallas is picked to finish sixth with 277 points, 59 ahead of UMHB. LeTourneau University is picked eight with 183 points, East Texas Baptist University is picked ninth with 157 points, Texas Lutheran totaled 151 points for 10th place, Howard Payne University’s 108 points were good for 11th place, Concordia Texas and McMurry University tied for 12th with 73 points apiece and Louisiana College is picked 14th with 66 total points.

Mississippi College forward Phillip Buffington was the choice to take Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors. Schreiner goalkeeper Nick Morrison was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year.

The Cru finished 10-9-1 overall and 7-6-1 in ASC play last season and advanced to the ASC Championship Tournament for the first time since 2000. Head coach Brad Bankhead welcomes back 15 letter winners and nine starters this season. The UMHB men will open the 2007 season with a pair of road games in Houston this weekend. The Cru will take on Houston Baptist University in a 5:00 PM start on Friday before facing Mid-America Nazarene for a 3:00 PM start on Saturday.