NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers-Newark's men's soccer team is picked to finish second behind four-time defending champion Montclair State in the New Jersey Athletic Conference in the annual head coaches preseason poll. 

2010 NJAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll

Fourth-year head coach Kevin East has 23 veterans returning from last season's 13-6-4 squad which earned the program's first NJAC Championship Tournament berth. The Scarlet Raiders upended Richard Stockton, 1-0 in overtime, in the opening round before bowing to Montclair State in the semifinals.

Montclair State drew six first-place ballots while Rutgers-Newark and Richard Stockton, which placed third in the informal poll, collected one first-place vote apiece. No. 4 Rowan was the top selection on two ballots while Ramapo was tabbed as the “dark horse” candidate.

After back-to-back ECAC Metro Playoff berths and a program best 4-3-2 NJAC performance in 2009, the Raiders are squarely on the radar screen.

East, who became the program's first full-time head coach in 2007, has elevated the program to unprecedented heights. The installation of a new FieldTurf surface on Alumni Field and aggressive recruiting have established new expectations for men's soccer on the Newark campus.

Twenty-nine newcomers are expected to report on Wednesday as the Raiders get ready for their September 1st home opener against Farmingdale State.

Senior midfielder Estiven Benitez, an All-NJAC first team pick as well as a second team All-ECAC Metro selection, heads a list of talented returnees. He and forwards Robert Campos and Christien Vlahinich, midfielder-defenders Mike Svec and Jose Sibaja, and goalkeeper Matt Zielyk are each three-year letterwinners in the program.

The Raiders will host the annual Alumni Match at 6 p.m. on August 28 on Alumni Field. 

2010 NJAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
SCHOOL (First Place Votes)
1. Montclair State (6)
2. Rutgers-Newark (1)
3. Richard Stockton (1)
4. Rowan (2)
5. Rutgers-Camden
6. William Paterson
7. The College of New Jersey
8. Ramapo (dark horse)
9. Kean
10. New Jersey City