WINTER PARK, Fla. (August 15, 2012) - Coming off a Sunshine State Conference Tournament title, the 20th-ranked Rollins men's soccer team was picked to finish third in the 2012 SSC Preseason poll, it was announced Wednesday.

Rollins garnered 157 points and two first place votes. Defending conference regular season champion and national runner-up Lynn topped the poll with 192 points and the remaining 16 first place nods. Barry was second with 158 points.

The Tars posted a 15-4 record a year ago and beat Barry in the SSC Tournament championship game. Rollins earned a third-straight trip to the NCAA postseason, but were upended by the Bucs in the first round. The Tars started the season ranked second in the nation and spent one week at No. 1 before ending the year 20^th.  

In 2012, the Tars will have big shoes to fill in the back line with the graduation of SSC Defensive Player of the Year Justin Clark and All-American Jack Clifford. Easing the transition will be the return of junior goalkeeper Keneil Baker, a two-time All-Sunshine State Conference honoree.

On the attacking end, last year's leading scorer Rafa Faria returns after putting up seven goals and nine assists in his first campaign with the Tars. Also looking to bolster the Tars near the goal are returners Rob Crowley (four goals), Marten Mueller (three goals) and Evan Greenbaum (3 goals).

Rollins starts the exhibition season Saturday, August 18 at the University of North Florida. They then close out the preseason at home on Friday, August 24 against Webber International; kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.

Fans can follow the Tars all season long on the Tars Sports Network at RollinsSports.com.