RICHMOND, Va. – The Elon University men's soccer team was selected third in the 2016 Colonial Athletic Association Men's Soccer Preseason Poll as announced by the league office on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 18.
 
Hofstra was chosen as the favorite to repeat as league champions with 64 points, including eight first place votes, with Delaware tabbed second behind the Pride with 55 points. Elon received 48 points in the poll followed by UNCW (39) and William & Mary (35) in the top five. College of Charleston (28), James Madison (23), Northeastern (20) and Drexel (12) rounded out the poll.
 
The Phoenix, who clinched a share of the CAA regular season championship with Hofstra a season ago, also had a pair of players earn Preseason All-CAA team accolades in junior Jonathan Coleby and sophomore Jaiden Fortune. Earning honorable mention nods were redshirt sophomore keeper Matthew Jegier and sophomore defender Nicholas O'Callaghan.
 
A team captain, Coleby is one of three returning starters for the maroon and gold. The Middlesbrough, England, native helped the Phoenix to a CAA-best nine clean sheets a season ago while starting 19 of 20 games that he appeared in at one of the center back spots. He had previously earned a spot on the league's All-Rookie Team in 2014.
 
Fortune is the Phoenix's returning scorer with 16 points from his rookie campaign last season. The Orlando, Fla., native tallied five goals and and team-high six assists from his striker position despite starting only two contest in 2015. He also had a pair of game-winners and earned a spot on the CAA All-Rookie at the conclusion of last season.
 
Jegier also received a spot on the CAA All-Rookie team after playing every minute between the posts in his first season as a starter. The Charlotte, N.C., native led the CAA with his nine clean sheets and was in the top three of the league on goals against average at 1.161. He also twice earned CAA Rookie of the Week honors.
 
O'Callaghan started 15 of 19 last season along the backline as a freshman last season. The Winter Springs, Fla., native was named the CAA Rookie and Player of the Week after scoring his first career goal and tallying his first career assist in Elon's 3-1 victory over Drexel.
 
Elon will conclude its preseason schedule with a home exhibition match against No. 22 Charlotte on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. The Phoenix opens the regular season versus UNC Asheville on Aug. 26, to open the John Rennie/Nike Invitational in Durham, N.C.
 

2016 CAA Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
Pl.	Team		Pts (1st Place Votes)
1.	Hofstra		64 (8)
2.	Delaware		55 (1)
3.	Elon		48
4.	UNCW		39
5.	William & Mary		35
6.	College of Charleston		28
7.	James Madison		23
8.	Northeastern		20
9.	Drexel		12
2016 Preseason All-CAA Men's Soccer Team
Name		School		Pos.	Cl.	Hometown
Guillermo Delgado		Delaware		F	Sr.	Tres Cantos, Spain
William Eskay		William & Mary		F	Jr.	Urbana, Md.
Jaiden Fortune		Elon		F	So.	Bedford, England
Erik Alexandersson		Drexel		M	Jr.	Gothenburg, Sweden
Marcel Berry		William & Mary		M	So.	Charlottesville, Va.
Antonio Bustamante		William & Mary		M	So.	Springfield, Va.
Thomas de Villardi		Delaware		M	Sr.	Vincennes, France
Joseph Holland		Hofstra		M	Sr.	London, England
Jonathan Coleby		Elon		D	Jr.	Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
Harri Hawkins		Hofstra		D	Sr.	Cambridge, England
Thibault Philippe		Delaware		D	Jr.	Saint-Brienc, France
Kyle Morton		James Madison		GK	Sr.	West Chester, Pa.
2016 CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Joseph Holland, Hofstra
Honorable Mention: Toby Appleton, James Madison (D); Leland Archer, CofC (D); Ryder Bell, William & Mary (F); Joel Bylander, UNCW (M); Matthew Jegier, Elon (GK); Ackim Mpofu, Northeastern (M); Martin Nygaard, Northeastern (D); Nicholas O'Callaghan, Elon (D); Nico Rittmeyer, CofC (F); Kevin Shields, CofC (GK)