Fairleigh Dickinson Men’s Soccer Team Finishes Ranked 11^th Nationally
Seth Roland Named Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year

TEANECK, N.J. –  The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) announced its final national rankings for the 2001 season, where Fairleigh Dickinson was voted 11^th in the nation, the program’s highest ranking since 1984 when the Knights finished third and first time they have finished nationally ranked since 1989 when they were 14^th.  Fairleigh Dickinson University head men’s soccer coach Seth Roland was also named NSCAA/adidas Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.  The NSCAA announced the honorees and rankings today.  The NSCAA/adidas Regional Coaches of the Year are determined through voting by NSCAA member coaches across the country.

Roland, in his fifth year at the helm of the Knights, led his team to a second straight Northeast Conference (NEC) regular season title (sharing it with Robert Morris), a second straight NEC Tournament crown and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1989.  Roland and the Knights made the most of that bid, as they advanced to the quarterfinals for only the third time in program history and first time since 1984.  With upsets of Boston College, 12^th-ranked Princeton and Seton Hall in the first three rounds, the 2001 squad became the first team in program history to win three times in a NCAA Tournament.  They fell 3-2 in the quarterfinals to North Carolina, but not before taking the eventual NCAA Champion Tar Heels to triple-overtime.

“It’s the icing on the cake for a great season of soccer for Fairleigh Dickinson,” said Roland of the national ranking.  “It’s justly deserved for our student-athletes who worked so hard to bring this program to a level of national prominence and prestige.  We had a fun ride this year and I’m proud of how our team competed with strength and character throughout the season.”

The Knights finished the year with a 17-7-0 overall record and an 8-2-0 mark in NEC regular season play.  The 17 wins were the most by a Fairleigh Dickinson men’s soccer team since the 1989 team won 17 games and stands as the fourth-highest win total in program history.  Roland’s Knights are the first NEC team to ever repeat as both regular season and tournament champions, and are also the only NEC team to ever win a game in the NCAA Tournament.

            Roland became only the second coach in NCAA men’s soccer history to lead teams to the NCAA Tournament at the Division I, II and III levels.  He is the first ever to have achieved that feat with three different institutions (Div. II Bridgeport, Div. III Christopher Newport.)  During his five years at Fairleigh Dickinson, Roland has compiled a 57-39-9 record (.586 win pct.), and now has a 15-year head coaching mark of 177-103-21 (.623 win pct.)

            Roland and the other nine regional coaches of the year will be up for National Coach of the Year honors, which will be announced in January. 

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