Monmouth University Selected As 2016 MAAC Men's Soccer Preseason Favorites
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – Monmouth University was named the 2016 MAAC Men’s Soccer Preseason favorites, as voted upon by the leagues eleven head coaches. The 2015 MAAC Men’s Soccer Regular Season Champion Hawks received 120 points, with 10 first-place votes to earn this preseason distinction. The defending MAAC Men’s Soccer Champions, Rider University, finished in second place with 103 points, and one first-place vote.
Monmouth University goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky is the 2016 MAAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Player of the Year. Klenofsky, also a member of the preseason All-MAAC Team, was named MAAC Men’s Soccer Goalkeeper of the Year last season while earning First-Team All-MAAC accolades. Klenofsky tied for the MAAC lead with seven shutouts in the net for the Hawks and ranked first with 80 total saves, averaging 3.81 saves per game. His .784 save percentage ranked fourth in the MAAC a season ago. Monmouth University went 7-0-3 in MAAC play last season and 13-4-4 overall.
Rider University will look to repeat as MAAC Men’s Soccer Champions after defeating Monmouth University 3-2 in last year’s MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship Game at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Jose Aguinaga and Christian Flath, two members of the 2015 MAAC Men’s Soccer All-MAAC First Team were both named to the 2016 Preseason All-MAAC Team. Aguinaga was tied for first in the conference with 23 points (seven goals and nine assists) for the Broncs last season. His nine assists ranked first in the MAAC. Flath was second in the conference with eight goals scored. Rider University went 6-3-1 in conference play and 14-6-1 overall last season en route to being crowned MAAC Men’s Soccer Champions.
Coming in third place in the preseason poll is Iona College, who received 94 points. The Gaels were led by the duo of 2015 MAAC Men’s Soccer Co-Rookie of the Year Daniel Huertas and Marcos Nunez. Both MAAC First-Teamers last season were voted onto the 2016 Preseason All-MAAC Team along with Jordan Scarlett. Huertas led the MAAC in points (23), goals (9) and game-winning goals (4) in 2015. Nunez tied for first in the conference with eight assists and tied for seventh in the conference with six goals. His 1.18 points per game average was best in the conference. Nunez also ranked third with 20 points (six goals and eight assists) during the 2015 campaign. Scarlett ranked eighth in the MAAC with five assists and his average of 0.26 assists per game for the Gaels last season.
Fairfield University was voted to finish in fourth place in the preseason poll. The Stags received 86 points after going 5-3-2 in MAAC play and 6-6-6 overall last season. Fairfield University ranked first in the conference last aeason in shutouts with seven and second with an 0.98 goals against average. Angus Hastings was named to the 2016 MAAC Men’s Soccer Preseason All-MAAC team. The junior defender looks to anchor the Stags defense for the 2016 season.
Rounding out the top five in the preseason poll is Siena College, receiving 86 points. The Saints finished sixth in the standings last season after going 5-4-1 in MAAC play and 8-10-3 overall. As the sixth seed, the Saints made it all the way to the semifinals before falling to the eventual MAAC Champion Broncs in a 3-2 contest. The Saints will have 13 new faces on the team this season, including 12 freshmen. The Saints were first in the MAAC with an average of 13.10 shots per game last season, fourth in points (70) and fourth in assists (24).
Marist College finished sixth in the preseason poll, receiving 57 points after a season when they went 5-3-2 in conference play and 7-9-2 overall. The Red Foxes were second in the MAAC in saves (83) and fourth in the goals (24).
Quinnipiac University ranks seventh with 51 points in the preseason poll. Last season, the Bobcats were 1-5-4 in MAAC play and 2-11-6 overall. The Bobcats upset seventh seeded Canisius College 1-0 in the opening round of the 2015 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship. The Griffs rank eighth in the preseason poll with a total of 47 points. The Griffs were 5-5-0 in MAAC play and 8-9-1 overall. Canisius College was tied for fourth in goals (24) and fifth in the conference in points (68) in 2015.
Manhattan College, Saint Peter’s University and Niagara University finished ninth, tenth and eleventh in the preseason poll, respectively. The Jaspers were 3-6-1 in conference play and 4-11-2 overall. They knocked off Saint Peter’s 1-0 in the opening round of the 2015 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship. The Peacocks went 4-5-1 in MAAC play and 7-9-2 overall. Niagara University went 0-9-1 in MAAC play and 1-16-3 last season. The Purple Eagles will be under the direction of new head coach Bill Boyle for the 2016 campaign.
Joining Klenofsky on the preseason All-MAAC team are his Monmouth teammates Dave Nigro, Anderson Asiedu, Zachary Pereria and Colin Stripling. The 2016 MAAC Men’s Soccer Preseason All-MAAC team consists of forwards, Dave Nigro from Monmouth University, and Iona College teammates Marcos Nunez and Daniel Huertas. At midfield, Rider University teammates Jose Aguinaga and Christian Flath along with Monmouth University teammates Anderson Asiedu and Colin Stripling. At back, Fairfield’s Angus Hastings joins fellow defenders Zachary Pereria from Monmouth University and Jordan Scarlett from Iona College.
For all up-to-date information on men’s soccer, visit maacsports.com and for championship information, visit maacsports.com/menssoccer
Preseason Coaches' Poll
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1.
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Monmouth (10)
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120
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2.
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Rider (1)
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103
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3.
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Iona
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94
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4.
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Fairfield
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86
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5.
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Siena
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76
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6.
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Marist
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57
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7.
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Quinnipiac
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51
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8.
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Canisius
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47
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9.
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Manhattan
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45
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10.
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Saint Peter’s
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33
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11.
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Niagara
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14
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Preseason All-MAAC Team
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Daniel Huertas
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Forward
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Iona
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Marcos Nunez
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Forward
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Iona
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Dave Nigro
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Forward
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Monmouth
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Anderson Asiedu
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Midfield
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Monmouth
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Colin Stripling
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Midfield
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Monmouth
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Jose Aguinaga
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Midfield
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Rider
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Christian Flath
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Midfield
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Rider
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Angus Hastings
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Back
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Fairfield
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Jordan Scarlett
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Back
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Iona
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Zachary Pereria
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Back
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Monmouth
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Eric Klenofsky
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Goalkeeper
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Monmouth
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Preseason Player of the Year