FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Defending three-time GNAC champion
Wildcats grab all 10 first-place votes

WINTHROP, Mass. – Johnson & Wales University (RI) received 10 of a possible 10 first-place votes to grab the top spot in the 2016 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll, as voted upon by the league’s head coaches.

The Wildcats received 100 points in the ledger as they get set to open up the fall campaign by hosting the JWU Cup beginning on September 2. For the complete preseason poll results, please see below.

The second-, third- and fourth-ranked teams in the preseason poll were separated by a mere three points, as Saint Joseph’s College of Maine finished second with 75 points, followed by Mount Ida College with 74 points and Norwich University with 73 points.

Albertus Magnus College, which fell to JWU in last year’s GNAC Championship, rounded out the top-five with 66 points.

Emmanuel College took the sixth position in the preseason poll with 46 points, followed by Suffolk University with 41 points, Lasell College with 35 points, Rivier University with 23 points and Anna Maria College with 17 points.

Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 12 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 17 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement. 

2016 GNAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Johnson & Wales (10) – 100
2. Saint Joseph's of Maine – 75
3. Mount Ida – 74
4. Norwich – 73
5. Albertus Magnus – 66
6. Emmanuel – 46
7. Suffolk – 41
8. Lasell – 35
9. Rivier – 23
10. Anna Maria – 17

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