SELINSGROVE, Pa. - The Susquehanna University men's soccer team has been picked to finish third in the Commonwealth Conference during the upcoming season, according to the league's eight head coaches.

The Crusaders tied the single-season program high for victories with an overall record of 11-6-1, but finished fifth in the conference last season with a 2-4-1 league mark.

Head coach Jim Findlay opens his eighth season with nine starters returning from last year's squad including junior Nate Snyder (Catawissa, PA/Southern Columbia) , who was named first-team All-Conference after tying the school single-season record with 16 goals, six of them game-winners.

Defending national champion Messiah received seven first-place votes to earn the top spot in the poll, followed by 2004 conference playoff champion Elizabethtown, Susquehanna, Lebanon Valley, Moravian, Widener, Juniata and Albright.

The top four teams in the standings will compete in the conference playoffs for the league title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer tournament.

The Crusaders open the 2005 season on Saturday, Sept. 3 against Frostburg State in the Lycoming Classic, and begin their home schedule on Saturday, Sept. 17 against Scranton. The team's Commonwealth Conference opener is slated for Wednesday, Sept. 21 at Elizabethtown.