Men's Soccer Tabbed Fourth in Preseason B1G PollMen's Soccer Tabbed Fourth in Preseason B1G Poll

Men's Soccer Tabbed Fourth in Preseason B1G Poll

Aug. 20, 2014

Official Big Ten Release

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Big Ten men's soccer coaches have spoken and tabbed newcomer Maryland the preseason favorite followed by Michigan State, Michigan and two-time defending Big Ten winners Penn State in fourth. Three Nittany Lions -- Owen Griffith (Lewisburg, Pa.), 2013 Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year Andrew Wolverton (Atlanta, Ga.) and Mikey Minutillo (San Jose, Calif.) -- were tabbed Big Ten preseason players to watch.

For a third straight season, the Nittany Lions will look to overcome their preseason pick by the league's coaches en route to a third consecutive conference crown. In both 2012 and 2013, Penn State was the preseason No. 5 team in the conference before earning those titles, while this year PSU is fourth. Behind the Lions are Indiana, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Rutgers and Ohio State rounding out the nine-team conference.

Each team receives three slots on the players to watch list and captains Griffith and Wolverton feature once again for PSU. Griffith is a two-time All-Big Ten Second Team honoree, while Wolverton gained NSCAA All-Great Lakes First Team mention in the 2013 season where he was the league's top netminder. A redshirt-senior in 2014, Minutillo heads up the offensive corps after missing the 2013 season.

Penn State, a preseason No. 15 team in the NSCAA preseason poll, opens its 2014 campaign next week against Oakland (Aug. 29, 8 p.m.) at Jeffrey Field followed by a home match against St. John's (Aug. 29, 7 p.m.). Admission and parking are free to all PSU soccer regular-season home events.