NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - For the third straight season, the Saint Louis Billikens have been voted first in the 2015 Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Poll, announced by the league on Monday. The league’s 13 head coaches voted in the poll and for the Preseason All-Conference teams.

SLU garnered a total of 162 points and seven first place votes to take the top spot in the poll, while 2014 A-10 Championship runner-up, Rhode Island earned a total of 141 points to place second. George Mason, 2013 A-10 Champions, tallied 139 points to finish third in the poll taken of the A-10’s 13 head coaches.

The Billikens (14-5-2; 5-1-2 A-10) return 2014 Atlantic 10 Conference Midfielder of the Year, David Graydon and goalkeeper Sascha Otte, an A-10 All-Rookie team selection, and Tyler David, a second team All-Conference selection. Ranked No. 22 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Preseason Rankings, the Bills will look to make its third NCAA appearance in four years, after falling to Louisville, 2-1, in last year's second round. SLU also welcomes 10 newcomers, including three players named to the preseason All-Rookie team.

The runner-up and 2014 regular season champions, Rhode Island (13-5-3; 7-1-0 A-10), have been picked second in the preseason rankings. After a historic turnaround in which the Rams went winless in conference play two seasons ago to first place in the league in 2014, Rhody returns seven starters, including Rookie of the Year and freshman All-American, goalie Nils Leifhelm. 

Rounding out the top three is George Mason (11-4-5; 4-2-2 A-10), who made it to the semifinals of the 2014 A-10 Championship. The Patriots return 10 starters, led by goalkeeper Steffen Kraus, Jannik Eckenrode, Daniel Hoffman, and All-Rookie selections, Henning Dirks and Alain Sargent. George Mason also welcomes nine freshmen, including Stephen Durbin, a preseason all-rookie pick.

VCU (7-8-5; 4-1-3) was picked to finished fourth, followed by Davidson (10-2-6, 4-2-2) and Dayton (7-7-5; 3-3-2). Reigning champion, Fordham (8-9-4; 3-3-2), was voted to finish seventh, while Duquesne (8-7-3; 3-4-1), La Salle (7-9-3; 3-3-2) and George Washington (6-9-2; 2-4-2) finished out the top 10. Saint Joseph's (7-7-4; 2-5-1), Massachusetts (3-14-1; 2-5-1) and St. Bonaventure (1-15-0; 0-8-0) round out the poll.

The league’s head coaches also voted for a 12-member Preseason All-Conference Team and All-Rookie Team, listed below. A tie in the voting resulted in the 12 member team.

The 2015 season kicks off Friday, August 28 with all 13 teams in action. The top eight teams will compete in the 2015 Atlantic 10 Men’s Soccer Championship, which will be held Nov. 12-15 at George Mason Stadium in Fairfax, Va.

2015 Atlantic 10 Preseason Team
Forwards
James Haupt, Dayton
Andres Penfold, Fordham
Joey Farrell, La Salle
Vince Cicciarelli, Saint Louis

Midfielders
Amass Amankona, Dayton
Ryan Oakley, Rhode Island
David Graydon, Saint Louis

Defenders
Lalas Abubakar, Dayton
Tyler David, Saint Louis
Dennis Castillo, VCU
Juan Fajardo, VCU

Goalkeeper
Nils Leifhlem, Rhode Island

2015 Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Rookie Team
Jordan Hill, Davidson
Kennedy Nwabia, Dayton
Cameron Keys, La Salle
Garrett Keys, La Salle
Stephen Durbin, George Mason
Alistair Berry, George Washington
Anthony Brown, Saint Louis
Lennart Hein, Saint Louis
Nash Popovic, Saint Louis
Steven DalMolin, VCU
Ivan Sakou, VCU

2014 Overall Record, A-10 Record	Total Points (1st Place Votes)
1. Saint Louis (14-5-2; 5-1-2)	162 (7)
2. Rhode Island  (13-5-3; 7-1-0)	141 (3)
3. George Mason (11-4-5; 4-2-2)	139 (1)
4. VCU (7-8-5; 4-1-3)	135 (1)
5. Davidson (10-2-6, 4-2-2)	120 (1)
6. Dayton (7-7-5; 3-3-2)	105
7. Fordham (8-9-4; 3-3-2)	96
8. Duquesne (8-7-3; 3-4-1)	74
9. La Salle (7-9-3; 3-3-2)	65
10. George Washington (6-9-2; 2-4-2)	56
11. Saint Joseph's (7-7-4; 2-5-1)	45
12. Massachusetts (3-14-1; 2-5-1)	29
13. St. Bonaventure (1-15-0; 0-8-0)	16