BOSTON – The University of Hartford men's soccer team has been tabbed a co-favorite to win the America East in the 2015 preseason coaches' poll, which was announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon. The Hawks are projected to share the top spot with UMBC – a team that they have squared off against in the America East Championship's title match the last two seasons.

Both Hartford and UMBC received four first-place votes and 46 points in the preseason poll. The voting was conducted by the conference's eight head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own teams. Vermont was chosen third with 34 points, followed by UMass Lowell in fourth with 27 points. Albany, which received 23 points for fifth, was followed by New Hampshire's 18 points. Rounding out the poll was Binghamton (16 points) and Stony Brook (14 points).

Earlier this month, the Hawks received votes in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason national rankings. Hartford has 18 student-athletes returning for the upcoming season, including nine starters, five America East All-Conference selections, and last year's top-three top scorers.

Among the returners for head coach Tom Poitras, who is beginning his fifth season at the helm of Hartford, is juniorUdi Cohen, junior Jeff Tryon, and senior Javoni Simms, a three-time first-team selection. Last season, the trio combined for 10 goals and 10 assists. The Hawks also bring back two more first-teamers in senior defender Jhamie Hyde and senior midfielder Rohan Roye.

Also highlighting the list of returners is junior David MacKinnon, an America East All-Conference Second Team goalkeeper last season. With the help of his back line, which also consisted of Hyde, Blake Jones, and 2014 America East All-Rookie Team member Andre Morrison, MacKinnon and the Hawks posted seven shutouts last season and held their opponents to a 0.97 goals-against average.

Eleven new faces will also be making their debut in 2015. Of those newcomers, nine join the roster as true freshmen.

Poitras has put together a challenging non-conference slate for his squad this season, as three opponents reached the NCAA Tournament in 2014 (Monmouth, Old Dominion, and Syracuse). In addition, over half (5) of the Hawks' nine non-conference opponents are coming off double-digit win totals last season. Also highlighting the 2015 schedule is a rematch of last year's America East title match against UMBC on Saturday, October 3 (7 p.m.) at Al-Marzook Field. The Retrievers have won three consecutive America East titles and are ranked 12th nationally in the NSCAA preseason poll.  

Hartford kicks off its 2015 campaign at home with an evening tilt against Holy Cross on Friday, August 28. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium.