ANDERSON, S.C. -- After advancing to the conference tournament championship for the first time in school history last season, the Anderson mens soccer team has been picked to finish third in a vote by Conference Carolinas coaches, as released Thursday by the conference office. A year ago, the Trojans were predicted to finish mid-way through the pack, but surprised the voters by claiming the second spot in the regular season and advanced all the way to the league championship match where defending champion Lees-McRae edged AU in a shootout. Anderson wrapped up last season with a sparkling 12-5-3 overall record and head coach Rob Miller is a firm believer that the overall team concept is the key to success. "We have a great core of returners coming back," Miller said. "And we have an outstanding group of newcomers as well. We play as a team and we possess great team chemistry. I'm looking forward to getting started." The Trojans will be looking to replace a pair of first-team all-conference performers in Stephen Henry and Lahnden Onger, but return 14 letterwinners, including six starters. Lasse Sohrweide, the reigning Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, is back for his sophomore season after leading AU in goals scored (11) and points (30). The 6-foot forward from Flensburg, Germany also tied for first on the team in assists with eight, including an assist on the game-winning goal that sent the Trojans to the league championship match. Defender Rayon Markland, a second-team all-conference honoree and goalkeeper Benjamin Pepion also return to the pitch for Miller's Trojans. Markland, a senior from Bull Bay, Jamaica was also named to the all-tournament team, while Pepion, a junior from Monaco, France, posted an impressive 8-3-1 record, including four shutouts last season. Miller, who earned Conference coach of the Year accolades in 2008, guided the Trojans to their highest conference finish in school history as AU boasted a nine-match unbeaten streak midway through the 2008 campaign. "I think it's good for the program," Miller noted of his team's preseason ranking. "But it's probably based on last year's results and every year is different." Anderson opens its 2009 regular season on Thursday, Aug. 27, at Newberry. Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Preseason Poll (# of First Place Votes in Parenthesis) 1. Lees-McRae (9) 99 2. Limestone (2) 87 3. Anderson 83 4. Belmont Abbey 67 5. Queens 66 6. Pfeiffer 60 7. Mount Olive 45 8. Erskine 32 9. Coker 27 10. St. Andrews 25 11. Barton 14