The St. Thomas Aquinas men's soccer team was picked 4th in the ECC pre season poll voted on by the conference coaches. The Spartans finished the 2016 season with a record of 8-5-5 and 7-2 in the ECC.
LIU Post received all 10 first place votes to top the poll with 100 points. The Pioneers continued their run of success in 2016, winning their second straight ECC title and their fourth in five years. LIU Post, who ascended to the No. 1 ranking in all of Division II last season, also starts the 2017 campaign ranked No. 7 in the United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA) Top 25 poll.
The Spartans will face top seeded LIU Post on October 21st at home. STAC opens their season next Thursday, August 31st with a road game at Stonehill. That will be the first of a three game road series as they are slated to play at St. Anselms on Saturday September 2nd and at Holy Family on Monday September 4th.
STAC will host American International for their home opener on Saturday September 9th at 3:00 p.m. The Spartans are returning a number of core players from last years squad including top goal scorer, Luis Morales (15 goals amd 1 assist) and starting goal keeper, Jack Nicholson. Nicholson recorded seven wins last season, including two shutouts. STAC has added twelve newcomers as they look to continue to build off last years success.
"We are a younger squad this year with only three seniors but their attitude and effort is encouraging", commented head coach Graham Brown.
2017 ECC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
| School | Pts. | 2016 Record |
| 1. LIU Post (10) | 100 | 18-1-1 (8-0-1 ECC |
| 2. NYIT | 84 | 10-4-4 (5-2-2 ECC) |
| 3. Molloy | 83 | 11-5-1 (7-2-0 ECC) |
| 4. St. Thomas Aquinas | 58 | 8-5-5 (7-2-0 ECC) |
| 5. Mercy | 57 | 9-4-3 (3-4-2 ECC) |
| 6. Dist. Columbia | 54 | 5-11-1 (4-4-1 ECC) |
| 7. Queens | 40 | 6-7-4 (3-4-2 ECC) |
| 8. Bridgeport | 34 | 3-11-2 (3-4-2 ECC) |
| 9. Roberts Wesleyan | 26 | 4-11-1 (2-7-0 ECC) |
| 10. Daemen | 14 | 2-15-0 (0-9-0 ECC) |