Aug. 18, 2008

IRVING, Texas - Richie Grant's Memphis men's soccer squad was chosen to finish in the middle of the pack in 2008. They have been pegged as the fifth-best team heading into the 2008 season, as released by the Conference USA office on Monday. The Tigers, who finished the 2007 season in fifth place, are expected to have a repeat performance in 2008.

Also on Monday, the 2008 All-C-USA Preseason Awards were released. Michael Coburn, the Tigers lone player remaining from their 2004 Conference USA Championship squad, garnered a spot on the Preseason All-C-USA team. Coburn, a senior from Dundalk, Ireland, is one of six Tiger seniors on the squad for 2008. Coburn will serve as a team captain in 2008, along with his five fellow seniors. Last season, he was named to the C-USA All-Conference Second Team.

The conference pick to finish first in the league is the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa. Tulsa finished last season as the Conference USA Champion and are expected to match that feet in the upcoming season.

Behind them in the standings are the SMU Mustangs, who in 2008 will not be accompanied by the familiar face of former head coach, Schellas Hyndman, who after 24 years with the Mustangs, has left to take the head coaching job for FC Dallas of Major League Soccer.

Following the Mustangs in the standings is South Carolina in third and Kentucky in the fourth spot. Kentucky will be led by the 2008 C-USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Barry Rice. Rice, a junior, was the 2007 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year.

Juan Guerra, of Florida International, has been named the 2008 C-USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Guerra finished tied for second in the conference in goals scored last season, with eight. He led the league in shots with 67.

2008 C-USA MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON AWARDS
2008 C-USA PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Juan Guerra, Jr., F, Florida International
2008 C-USA PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Barry Rice, Jr., D, Kentucky
2008 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE USA TEAM
Juan Guerra, Jr., F, Florida International
Barry Rice, Jr., D, Kentucky
Masumi Turnbull, Sr., MF, Kentucky
Michael Coburn, Sr., D, Memphis
Ryan Mirsky, Sr., D, SMU
Jimmy Maurer, So., GK, South Carolina
Jeff Scanella, Jr., MF, South Carolina
Chris Clements, Sr., D, Tulsa
Eric DeFreitas, Sr., MF, Tulsa
Jose Parada, Jr., F, Tulsa
Ryan Roushandel, Sr., F, UCF