Canisius Picked as Men's Soccer Preseason Favorite; Marist's Allen Gavilanes Named Preseason Player of the Year
EDISON, NJ - Canisius College was tabbed as the preseason favorite in MAAC men's soccer by a single point over Rider University and Marist College's Allen Gavilanes was named Preseason Player of the Year the MAAC announced on Tuesday.
Gavilanes took home both MAAC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in 2017. The New Jersey native was also a unanimous First Team All-MAAC and All-Rookie Team selection a season ago. The sophomore was named to the MAC Hermann Watch List last week and was one of two sophomores to be named to the list. Gavilanes led the Red Foxes in goals (8), assists (9), points (25), and led the MAAC in points per game (1.39) a season ago.
Canisius garnered six first-place votes to Rider's two, which gave the Golden Griffins 102 points to Broncs' 101. The Golden Griffins also had a league-high four named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team. The 2018 Preseason All-MAAC Team features nine players who were First Team All-MAAC a season ago.
Fairfield University (95 points), who picked up three first-place votes, was voted third in the preseason poll. The Stags secured the MAAC Championship with a win over Rider. Quinnipiac University (82) and Manhattan College (77) rounded out the top five. Monmouth University (75) was picked sixth, and Marist was slotted seventh with 64 points. Iona College (53) was picked eighth. Siena College (37), Saint Peter's (23), and Niagara University (17) rounded out the 11-team poll.
A pair of forwards-Troy Brady and Filippo Tamburini-a midfielder-Melvin Blair-and a defender-Alex Grattarola-were the quartet that represented Canisius. Grattarola was the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year. Rider had a trio make the Preseason All-MAAC Team; Emmanuel Kouma and Elliott Otmani in the midfield and Sylvain Coco on the back line.
Marist's Gavilanes joined Tamburini and Brady up front. Monmouth was represented by John Antunes in the midfield, and Quinnipiac landed Conor McCoy on defense. The goalkeeper of the Preseason All-MAAC Team is Marcellin Goheier-2017 MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year-of Manhattan.
| Coaches' Poll (first-place votes) |
| Canisius (6) |
102 |
| Rider (2) |
101 |
| Fairfield (3) |
95 |
| Quinnipiac |
82 |
| Manhattan |
77 |
| Monmouth |
75 |
| Marist |
64 |
| Iona |
53 |
| Siena |
37 |
| Saint Peter's |
23 |
| Niagara |
17 |
| 2018 Preseason All-MAAC Team |
| Players |
Position |
Institution |
| Troy Brady |
Forward |
Canisius |
| Filippo Tamburini |
Forward |
Canisius |
| Allen Gavilanes |
Forward |
Marist |
| Melvin Blair |
Midfield |
Canisius |
| John Antunes |
Midfield |
Monmouth |
| Emmanuel Kouma |
Midfield |
Rider |
| Elliott Otmani |
Midfield |
Rider |
| Alex Grattarola |
Back |
Canisius |
| Conor McCoy |
Back |
Quinnipiac |
| Sylvain Coco |
Back |
Rider |
| Marcellin Gohier |
Goalkeeper |
Manhattan |
| 2018 Preseason Player of the Year |
| Allen Gavilanes |
Forward |
Marist |
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 38th year of competition during the 2018-19 academic year. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter's University, and Siena College.