EDISON, NJ (Nov. 4, 2021) – The 2021 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men’s Soccer Championship kicks off this Sunday, November 7 with the opening quarterfinal round. The field of eight includes Fairfield University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
The 2021 Men’s Soccer Championship will occur between November 7 through 14. Following Sunday’s opening round of games, the semifinals will take place on Thursday, Nov. 11, and the championship title match will be played on Sunday, Nov. 14. Each round of the championship will be hosted by the higher seed, with the bracket reseeded at the conclusion of each round. All Championship matches will air live on the ESPN family of networks.
Marist clinched the overall top-seed following Wednesday’s victory over Fairfield, securing the MAAC Regular Season Championship crown and home field advantage at Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field throughout the tournament. The Red Foxes ended 2021 with a conference-leading record of 7-2-1, winning the program’s first ever regular season title. Picked fifth in the preseason polls, Marist recorded a 0.47 overall scoring margin, the best in the league, and scored the most goals and points in MAAC only contests. Pacing the offense attack this campaign was Stefan Copetti and Kyle Galloway who sit with the league’s best in points and assists, respectively. The Red Foxes have won MAAC Championships in 2000, 2004, and 2005.
No. 1 Marist (10-6-2, 7-2-1 MAAC) vs. No. 8 Manhattan (6-8-2, 4-5-1 MAAC)
Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field | POUGHKEEPSIE, NY
Top-seeded Marist plays host to No. 8 Manhattan in the opening round. The Red Foxes defeated the Jaspers 3-0 on Oct. 16 in Poughkeepsie during the regular season clash, with Marist goals by Copetti, Galloway, and Huib Achterkamp. In postseason play, the sides last met during the 2019 quarterfinals, which Marist won 2-1. The Jaspers closed out the 2021 regular season as winners in four of their final five matches, clinching the eighth and final playoff spot on the final day of the season. Manhattan’s fifth year forward Oswald Annang leads the team and is in the MAACs top-10 in goals scored this season.
No. 2 Saint Peter’s (8-8-1, 6-3-1 MAAC) vs. No. 7 Monmouth (7-8-2, 5-5 MAAC)
Jaroschak Field | JERSEY CITY, NJ
No. 2 Saint Peter’s will welcome No. 7 Monmouth to Jaroschak Field in Jersey City for an in-state rivalry matchup in the quarterfinals. The sides met in Jersey City this season back on Oct. 2, with the Hawks edging the Peacocks 1-0. The game-winning goal came off the boot of Oliver Clausen, assisted by George Akampeke in the 13th minute of the match. Sunday’s quarterfinal matchup between the New Jersey schools will be the first ever tournament game between the two. The Peacocks qualify for their fourth consecutive MAAC postseason, having advanced to the finals in 2019 after claiming the program’s first regular season title since 2010 during the same season. Senior Jamie Davis leads the league in assists, while his classmate Matt Hoyt ranks second in game-winning goals and top-10 in total goals. The defending MAAC Champions, Monmouth, became the first MAAC program to win the championship as the sixth seed in 2020-21. The Hawks boast the best defense in the conference, allowing a league-low 20 goals this season and second lowest goals against average. Monmouth keeper Sean Murray has recorded the MAAC’s most clean sheets and ranks first in goals against average and second in saves.
No. 3 Niagara (8-9-0, 6-4-0 MAAC) vs. No. 6 Fairfield (6-8-2, 5-4-1 MAAC)
Niagara Field | NIAGARA FALLS, NY
Third-seeded Niagara entertains sixth-seeded Fairfield in Western New York for the first round matchup. Fairfield took a 2-1 match over Niagara on Oct. 2, led by a pair of Stag’s goals from junior Daniel Raimondo and Thomas Drillen, while the Purple Eagles tally was scored by Jelldrik Dallmann. Both teams return to postseason action for the second consecutive season after each qualified for the 2020-21 tournament. Niagara’s offense is led by the conference leader in goals and points, Dallmann. Fairfield’s third ranked scoring offense is led by the trio of Jonathan Filipe, Rasmus Sorensen Rejnhold, and Drillen, which ranks fifth, ninth, and 10th in goals on the MAAC leaderboard, respectively. The Stags hold a tie for the most active MAAC Championships with five – last in 2017 – and is the only conference team with double-figure title game appearances, having advanced to the finals 13 times.
No. 4 Siena (9-6-3, 5-3-2 MAAC) vs. No. 5 Rider (8-7-2, 5-4-1 MAAC)
Hickey Field | LOUDONVILLE, NY
Set for a quarterfinal’s showdown in Loudonville, New York, No. 4 Siena hosts No. 5 Rider. Meeting less than a week ago on Oct. 30, the Saints shutout the Broncs, 2-0 in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Siena’s Jacob Pacheco netted a goal in the first half and Bilal Hersi snagged the second half goal. At the 2016 Championship semifinals when they last met during postseason competition, Rider eliminated Siena 3-1 by way of penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw, also eventually leading to a Rider Championship title. Siena is riding a four-match unbeaten streak, and won its most victories this season since 2014. The most unselfish team in the MAAC, the Saints have handed out a conference-best 36 assists and is the only team in the MAAC to hand out above 2.00 helpers per game. At the forefront of Siena’s assists is team-leader Jacob Arachchige-Jensen, who ranks third on the MAAC charts in the category. In goal, Greg Monroe leads the MAAC in saves and save percentage this season. The Broncs clinched their seventh-straight MAAC appearance dating back 2014, having won three trophies during the timeframe in 2015, 2016, and 2018. The most potent offense in the conference, Rider flexes the highest scoring average, points, and goals in 2021. Zaki Alibou is one of five players in the league with double-digit goals and also ranks top-10 in assists, while Sergio Aguinaga is second in assists and assists per game.
Tickets for all matches during the 2021 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship can be purchased through HomeTown Ticketing at the gate or by visiting
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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 41st year of competition during the 2021-22 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.
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