The Fordham University men were predicted to finish fourth in the preseason coaches poll of the Atlantic 10 Conference, it was announced on Wednesday.

Reigning Atlantic 10 champion Saint Louis was anointed the preseason front-runner, followed by Rhode Island, VCU, Fordham, and newcomer Loyola Chicago. The conference has 14 teams.

Fordham enters the season under the direction of head coach Carlo Acquista, who begins his fourth season at Rose Hill. The Rams have reached the conference semifinals in each of his three seasons, winning the 2020-21 conference championship. Last season, the Rams took Saint Louis to the brink, playing to a scoreless draw in the A-10 semifinals, but falling in penalty kicks.

The Rams, who won their first two preseason games over Fairfield (4-3) and Sacred Heart (3-2), will have their final exhibition on Saturday at Marist at 1 p.m.

Fordham host Hofstra University in its season opener on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m.

 

 

2022 A-10 Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll

School (First-Place Votes)

Points

1

Saint Louis (13)

193

2

Rhode Island

170

3

VCU (1)

154

4

Fordham

141

5

Loyola Chicago

128

6

Dayton

125

7

Duquesne

116

8

Saint Joseph’s

115

9

Massachusetts

87

10

Davidson

72

11

La Salle

56

12

George Washington

51

13

George Mason

36

14

St. Bonaventure

26

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.