Tarr Named Preseason All A-Sun; Men's Soccer Picked Eighth
MACON, Ga. – The Belmont men's soccer team was picked to finish eighth in the 2011 Atlantic Sun Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference on Wednesday. Junior forward Brandon Tarr (Knoxville, Tenn.) was selected to the A-Sun Preseason All-Conference Team for the second straight season.
The team's leading scorer in each of his first two seasons, Tarr has been named to the A-Sun Second Team All-Conference during his freshman and sophomore campaigns. He has already totaled 15 goals and 38 points heading into his junior season with the Bruins. With only one other player in the conference scoring more goals in 2010, Tarr is certainly a player to watch this fall.
"Brandon's performance definitely speaks for itself," Belmont Head Coach Earle Davidson said. "I think he fully deserves the honor he has been given by the league's coaches heading into preseason play."
Belmont was picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll, the exact same spot the team finished the 2010 campaign in. The Bruins recorded a record of 3-6 during conference play a year ago, but only finished half a game behind Jacksonville (3-5-1), who earned the sixth seed in the league tournament.
"[The Poll] is kind of a fun thing that we do, but it has never meant much in regards to how the season plays out," Davidson said. "We're very excited about the upcoming season. I think we have a good group, highlighted by a large senior class, which always proves to help at the college level. Are younger classes have also proven that they can really play, and with the new group coming in, I think have the opportunity to be very successful."
Florida Gulf Coast, who went an undefeated 9-0 in league play last year but was ineligible for postseason play, edged out defending tournament champion ETSU for the top spot in the poll. The Eagles received five first place votes and 77 total points, topping the Buccaneers' four first place nods and 76 total points.
Belmont will open the 2011 campaign by hosting Tusculum in an exhibition match at the brand new E.S. Rose Park on Friday, August 19 at 5:00 p.m. CT. The first regular season contest will be on the road at Missouri State, August 27 at 7:00 p.m. CT.
