Aug. 13, 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's soccer team was picked to finish third in the BIG EAST Blue Division Preseason Poll released on Monday, August 12. In addition, senior All-American Ryan Maduro (Bristol, R.I.) was selected to the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team.

Providence received 70 points to garner the third spot. Connecticut (112 points, 14 first-place votes) earned the top spot in the Blue Division. Notre Dame (99 points, two first-place votes) was picked to finish second. South Florida (99 points, seven first-place votes) is the favorite to win the Red Division. Louisville (97 points, four first-place votes) and St. John's (92 points, three first-place votes) were picked to finish second and third, respectively.

Last season, the Friars finished with a 9-8-2 overall record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for an unprecedented third consecutive season under the guidance of head coach Chaka Daley. Providence earned its third-consecutive winning campaign, a feat that had not been accomplished since 1985-87. In addition, the Friars finished with a 5-4-2 record in the BIG EAST. It marked the first time ever that the Friars enjoyed back-to-back winning seasons in the league. Among the big wins last season was a 1-0 result at Boston College, which was the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Maduro, who became the first PC player to earn two All-BIG EAST First Team honors (2006, 2007), also was named to the NSCAA All-America First Team in 2006. As one of the tri-captains last season, Maduro played in all 19 matches and led the team in scoring with a career-high five goals and six assists, including four goals and five assists in BIG EAST Conference action.

The Friars will open the 2008 campaign on Friday, August 29 with a home match against Sacred Heart University at 3:00 p.m.