Football Listed Sixth in NE-10 Preseason Coaches' Poll
SOUTH EASTON, Mass. (Aug. 25, 2014) - On Monday morning, the LIU Post football team was chosen sixth in the 2014 Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Poll. The Pioneers, who were 5-6 overall and 3-6 in the NE-10 a year ago, garnered 44 points in the ledger.
American International was the near-unanimous No. 1, receiving 81 points and nine first-place votes. New Haven (68 points) and Stonehill (67 points, one first-place vote) finished in a close race for second and third, respectively. Assumption and Merrimack tied for fourth with 47 points.
Southern Connecticut earned the No. 7 slot, claiming 37 points. Bentley (31 points), Saint Anselm (19 points) and Pace (nine points) rounded out the pack.
On offense, the Pioneers welcome back their four-year starting signal-caller
Steven Laurino (Boise, Idaho). In 2013, Laurino passed for the third-most yards per game in the NE-10, averaging a total of 260.0. He also connected for the fourth-most passing touchdowns in the league with 22. Additionally, Laurino's mobile ability allowed him to scamper for a team-leading 548 net yards and four scores.
Defensively, the tandem of
David Sumter (Hollis, N.Y.) and
Dan Belfiore (Glen Cove, N.Y.) will look to be the driving force up front, and flush the opposing quarterback out of the pocket. Last season, the seniors piled up a combined total of 96 tackles (20 TFL) and 5.5 sacks. Meanwhile, in the secondary, sophomore defensive back
Clarence Sears (Montclair, N.J.), who was tied for the team-lead in interceptions (3) in 2013, made 33 tackles and broke up four passes in his rookie campaign.
Head Coach
Bryan Collins and his LIU Post squad start up the year at home against non-conference foe East Stroudsburg next Saturday (Sept. 6) at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
2014 Northeast-10 Football Preseason Poll1. American International (Nine First-Place Votes) - 81 Points
2. New Haven - 68 Points
3. Stonehill (One First-Place Vote) - 67 Points
T-4. Assumption - 47 Points
T-4. Merrimack - 47 Points
6. LIU Post - 44 Points7. Southern Conn. St. - 37 Points
8. Bentley - 31 Points
9. Saint Anselm - 19 Points
10. Pace - 9 Points