Last season, the University of Ver?mont’s men’s soccer team surprised many with an amazing run all the way to the America East Championship game, but lost in a heartbreaker 1-0 to Binghamton.Vermont finished 9-7-4 overall, 5-1-2 in America East play, including an un?blemished 5-0 record in conference at Centennial Field.This year the Cats return nine of 11 starters, including four all-conference players, and last year’s playoff run provides Vermont with experience to make a run in 2007.Junior Jordan Crasilneck and soph?omore T.J. Gore earned America East First Team All-Conference honors in 2006. Senior Panos Georgiadis and ju?nior Connor Tobin earned second team honors.In total, seven of the top eight scor?ers return for the 2007 season, led by Crasilneck’s six goals and four assists.The Catamounts also return both goalies from last season. A key part of Vermont’s success is junior Roger Scully who posted the 12th best save percentage in the nation (.843) and started 17 games in goal.Junior Tom Critz was hampered by injuries last season, but played well in limited time. Georgiadis and Tobin will anchor the back line along with returning starters juniors Jake McFadden and Will Haywood. Vermont will have to make up for the loss of Corey Bronner, ’07, to keep one of the best defenses in America East.Seniors Loren Hill and Justin Geibel will play along side Crasilneck in the middle. America East All Rookie Team member in 2006, sophomore Rem Kiel?man and sophomore Dominic Chapman will help solidify UVM’s midfield.The Catamounts also have strong attackers up front, returning everyone from last year. Along side Gore will be senior Tyler Hasman who scored five goals and three assists, including a couple of noteworthy game winners. Also returning are junior Lee Stephan Kouadio, and sophomore Mar?ty Galvin. Sophomore Matt Hennessey and junior Caleb Doyle-Burr are also looking to make key contributions to the team this year.A slew of freshmen will provide the Cats with tremendous depth across the field.Defenders Gary Cole, Teddy Wingo, Tim Drabyak along side red shirt fresh?man goal keeper Trevor Quinn provide promise for continuing success for the men’s soccer program.In the midfield, freshmen Brendan Symington, Kyle Luetkehans and Drew Smalley will look to provide a spark off the bench.Picked to finish third in the Ameri?ca East preseason poll, UVM will look to improve on its second place finish in America East from a season ago and take home the America East title as well as earn a spot in the NCAA Col?lege Cup.The Cats hit the West Coast for match-ups with WCC (West Coast Con?ference) powerhouses San Francisco, and defending conference champ num?ber five Santa Clara. Vermont will host the Smith Barney/Nike Soccer Classic for the 17th time on Sept. 7 and 9 at Centennial Field. This year the field includes UMass, Michigan State and New Hampshire.