Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's soccer team was selected 10th in the 2012 Northeast Conference Men's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll. The Colonials return 12 letterwinners and seven starters from the 2011 team highlighted by 2010 National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Region Second Team selection Toba Bolaji (Vaughan, Ontario / Maple).

Monmouth received seven first-place votes and the top honor in this season's poll. Fairleigh Dickinson received two first-place votes and is second while Saint Francis (Pa.) is third and Sacred Heart is fourth. Both the Red Flashes and the Pioneers received first-place nods. St. Francis (N.Y.) is fifth followed by Mount St. Mary's, Central Connecticut State, Quinnipiac, LIU Brooklyn, Robert Morris and Bryant.

Bolaji, a senior goalkeeper, highlights a group of talented returnees. His 1.14 career goals against average is the best in team history. He is also second at RMU with a .819 save percentage and has the fourth-most saves in team history with 249.

While he holds down the backline, the team's top two scorers return from a season ago. Junior forward Prince Samuels (Saint Catherine, Jamaica / Kingston College) topped the team in goals (6) and points (13) last season. Junior Miro Cabrilo (Hamilton, Ontario / Glendale Secondary) added 10 points on four goals and two assists.

Eight new players join the squad for 2012, giving 15^th year head coach Bill Denniston a deeper bench with which to toil. RMU finished 2011 4-12-1 overall.

The Colonials kick off the 2012 season Friday, Aug. 24, when Cleveland State visits the North Athletic Complex for a 3:00 p.m. kick-off.