EDISON, NJ (Nov. 3, 2022) – The 2022 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men’s Soccer Championship kicks off this Sunday, November 7 with the tournament’s opening round. The field of six includes top-seeded Quinnipiac University, No. 2 Iona University, No. 3 Manhattan College, No. 4 Niagara University, No. 5 Siena College, and No. 6 Fairfield University. All matches of the tournament will be hosted by the higher seed and all games will air on ESPN Networks.
The Quinnipiac Bobcats clinched its program’s fifth MAAC Regular Season title, earned the overall top-seed, an opening round bye and homefield advantage at the Quinnipiac Soccer Complex in Hamden, CT throughout the tournament. The Bobcats compiled a league-best 20 points, posting a 6-2-2 conference mark. The most potent offense in the MAAC by far in 2022, Quinnipiac led the conference in points (141), goals (46), and assists (49), marks that all ranked top-10 nationally. Pacing the offense attack for the Bobcats during the regular season was David Bercedo who led all goal scorers with a league-high 11 tallies and added a conference-best 28 points. Quinnipiac also had the MAAC leader in assists, with Alexander Stjernegaard dishing out nine helpers to pace the conference. The five regular season trophies since 2013 leads all other MAAC schools during the time span and the Bobcats have qualified for postseason play in all but one season since joining the MAAC in 2013. Quinnipiac has earned a berth into the championship final, four times previously, winning the league title once in 2013. The Bobcats will face the lowest advancing seed from the opening round on Thursday, November 10 in the semifinals.
The Iona Gaels finished just behind the Bobcats with 19 points, recording a 5-1-4 MAAC mark, and number two seed by virtue of 2-1 victory on Oct. 8 over Manhattan. The Gaels also earn a bye in the opening round and will host the highest advancing seed from the opening round next Thursday in New Rochelle, New York. The 2019 MAAC champions, Iona has qualified for the postseason in five out of the past six seasons dating back to 2017.
No. 3 Manhattan (7-4-6, 5-1-4 MAAC) vs. No. 6 Fairfield (8-9-1, 4-5-1 MAAC)
Gaelic Park | RIVERDALE, NY
No. 3 Manhattan plays host to No. 6 Fairfield in the opening round on Sunday. The Jaspers finished the regular season tied with Iona for second-place with 19 points and enter postseason play with back-to-back draws. Manhattan led all MAAC schools in goals allowed and ranked third in goals. Fairfield closed out the regular season with 13 points, good enough for the final spot in the playoffs. The Stags are making their fifth appearance in the MAAC tournament over the past six campaigns, having won regular season crowns in 2017 and 2018 and a tournament title in 2017. The teams met on Oct. 5 in Riverdale, with Manhattan coming away with a 1-0 victory. In postseason action, the sides last met during the 2011 championship final, which Fairfield took 3-1, claiming one of its five total MAAC crowns.
No. 4 Niagara (5-8-5, 4-2-4 MAAC) vs. No. 5 Siena (8-5-5, 4-2-4 MAAC)
Niagara Field | NIAGARA UNIV., NY
No. 4 Niagara will welcome No. 5 Siena to Western New York in the opening round. Both the Purple Eagles and Saints finished 4-2-5 with 16 points, but Niagara topped Siena 2-0 on the road back on Oct. 12 to claim the head-to-head tiebreaker and No. 4 seed. The Purple Eagles secured their third-straight trip into the MAAC Championship, using a 1-0 win over top-seeded Quinnipiac in the regular season finale to propel the team into the fourth spot. Niagara has one MAAC championship under its belt, winning it all in 2012. The Saints closed out the regular season with a 2-0 victory over Fairfield, to push them ahead of the Stags on the final standings. Siena is unbeaten in its last three matches and also makes its third consecutive postseason appearance. The two sides last meeting in the MAAC Championship was during the opening round of the 2015 tournament, in which Siena won by a margin of 1-0.
The 2022 MAAC Men's Soccer Championship will take place from November 6 through 13. The six-team, single-elimination championship will be hosted by the higher seed of each match. The opening round will take place on Sunday, November 6, followed by the semifinals on Thursday, November 10, and concluding with the championship match on Sunday, November 13. For all information regarding the 2022 MAAC Women’s Soccer Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/msoc.
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 42nd year of competition during the 2022-23 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
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