Football Places Fourth in NE-10 Preseason Ledger
SOUTH EASTON, Mass. (Aug. 29, 2013) - The 2013 Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Football Poll was released on Thursday morning, and LIU Post ranked fourth in the census. The Pioneers, who accumulated 60 points and two first-place votes, are back in the NE-10 after spending the last five years in the PSAC.
American International topped the tally, narrowly beating out defending league champion New Haven. The Yellow Jackets claimed 75 points and five first-place nods, while the Chargers earned 73 points and three first-place votes. Bentley just edged LIU Post for the No. 3 slot with a 61-point total.
Merrimack (44 points), Southern Connecticut State (42 points) and Stonehill (41 points) all finished within a three-point radius to come in fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively. Assumption racked up 24 points, which was good for eighth. Saint Anselm (21 points) and Pace (9 points) closed it out.
The green and gold return one of their All-PSAC East honorees from 2012. Senior linebacker Rob Bright (East Meadow, N.Y.), who was a second-team defensive selection, recorded a team-leading 79 tackles (43 solo, 36 assist, 7.5 for loss) last season, alongside two forced fumbles and one-and-a-half sacks.
Offensively, the Pioneers will rely on red-shirt junior quarterback Steven Laurino (Boise, Idaho). Last year, Laurino passed for 1,502 yards (158-of-270) and 14 touchdowns. He also scampered 115 times for 255 net yards and seven scores.
Head Coach Bryan Collins and his LIU Post squad start up the 2013 campaign next Saturday (Sept. 6), when they square off with former PSAC rival Millersville in a non-conference tilt at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium in Millersville, Pa. The opening kickoff is set for noon.
2013 Northeast-10 Football Preseason Poll
1. American International (Five First-Place Votes) - 75 Points
2. New Haven (Three First-Place Votes) - 73 Points
3. Bentley - 61 Points
4. LIU Post (Two First-Place Votes) - 60 Points
5. Merrimack - 44 Points
6. Southern Connecticut State - 42 Points
7. Stonehill - 41 Points
8. Assumption - 24 Points
9. Saint Anselm - 21 Points
10. Pace - 9 Points