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Tigers Picked to Finish Sixth in C-USA Preseason Poll
Aug. 16, 2006 IRVING, Texas- The University of Memphis men's soccer team was chosen to finish sixth in Conference USA in the league's annual preseason poll. The league also announced the preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year as well as the preseason All-Conference USA Team. The Tigers are not represented on the preseason awards list, but that doesn't bother head coach Richie Grant. "My view, as a coach, is that you don't place a whole lot of value on where people predict you will finish. It's not where you start the season that matters, it's where you are at the end," Grant said. "We have a very focused group of players, and we're looking forward to trying to prove people wrong this year." Conference rival SMU, a 2005 Final Four team and the No. 2 ranked team in the nation, took first place in the poll and also claimed the preseason Defensive Player of the Year in Jay Needham. South Carolina, the 2005 C-USA Tournament champion, has the 2006 preseason Offensive Player of the Year in Mike Sambursky. The Tigers will begin their exhibition season tonight at 7 p.m. when they venture across town to Christian Brothers University and take on the Bucs. The Tigers open the regular season on the road at Louisville on Friday, Aug. 25. 2006 C-USA PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH 1. SMU 2006 C-USA PRESEASON AWARDS C-USA PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR C-USA PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE USA TEAM
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Memphis Tigers
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