Mercer University
Oglethorpe
Samuels Named Preseason All-Conference; Bears Picked Fifth
8/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
MACON, Ga. – Mercer men's soccer senior defender Ashani Sameuls was named a Preseason All-Conference selection and the Bears were picked to finish fifth in the Southern Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Samuels, a two-time Atlantic Sun All-Conference first team selection, joined 10 other student-athletes on the league's Preseason All-Conference list. The 6-foot-4 senior joined Furman's Dylan Rowe and Wofford's Forest Lasso as defenders selected to the team.
In 2013, Samuels started 19 games and anchored the Mercer defense while also chipping in a goal and an assist. As a sophomore in 2012, Samuels played a key role in Mercer's back line that helped produce seven shutouts on the year.
Mercer garnered nine points to edge out VMI (5 points) in the predicted league standings. Furman drew three first place votes and 22 overall points to take the top spot, while Wofford (21 points), ETSU (17 points) and UNC Greensboro (16 points) rounded out the top four.
The Bears return four starters and 10 letterwinners from last year's squad that finished 5-14-1. Head coach Brad Ruzzo enters his seventh season at the helm of the program in 2014, with two double digit win seasons under his belt on the Mercer sidelines.
Mercer's 2014 campaign officially gets underway on Aug. 29 against Georgia State in Macon at 8 p.m. The Bears will then host UAB on Aug. 31 before hitting the road for the first away test against Georgia Southern on Sept. 4.
