Bridgewater State Picked to Claim 2014 Men's Soccer MASCAC Championship
The Bridgewater State Bears have been picked to win the 2014 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference men’s soccer championship as decided by the eight coaches from around the league.
Westfield, Mass.—The Bridgewater State Bears have been picked to win the 2014 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference men's soccer championship as decided by the eight coaches from around the league.
The reigning MASCAC Tournament champions claimed six of the eight first place votes for 48 points. Returning for the Bears is MASCAC Tournament MVP Conor Murtagh, who helped the team to a 1-0 championship game victory over top-seeded Worcester State to send Bridgewater State to the NCAA tournament.
Earning a second place selection with the final two first place votes is Framingham State with 39 points. Last year, the Rams closed out the regular season with a 4-2-1 record. Bryan DaSilva led the team with 12 points on four goals and four assists which earned him a spot on the MASCAC All-Conference First Team along with teammate Nick Cotter.
Landing in the third slot is Worcester State with 38 points. The Lancers were the 2013 MASCAC regular season champions with a 6-0-1 record in conference play. First Team All-Conference goalie Nick Zucco returns for Worcester State after a 12-4 season with .818 save percentage and 1.05 goals against average.
Massachusetts Maritime is in fourth with 24 points after a 2013 season that saw the Buccaneers earn a spot in the MASCAC tournament as well as the first post-season victory in program history under reigning MASCAC Champions' Choice Coach of the Year Greg Perry. Rob Robbs finished the season with four points on a goal and two assists to earn All-Conference honors.
Westfield State and Salem State have been selected fifth and sixth with 23 and 21 points, respectively. During the 2013 season, the Owls netted two conference victories with sophomore Nick Tavares earning a spot on the MASCAC Second Team. The Vikings bring back the forward duo of Max Mondestin and Costa Hatziiannou, who finished the year with two goals apiece.
Rounding out the pre-season poll is MCLA and Fitchburg State in seventh with 18 points and eighth with 13 points, respectively. Returning for the Trailblazers is 2013 MASCAC Freshman of the Year Dylan Pereira, who finished his freshman season with 23 points on 11 goals and an assist. For the Falcons, Aidan Hanratty is back in goal after a stellar 2013 where he had seven shutouts, 0.59 goals against average and .910 save percentage.The MASCAC men's soccer squads kickoff the 2014 season this weekend with non-conference play.
The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation's oldest Division III men's and women's playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom. MASCAC member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University. Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sports of football and men's ice hockey, while Western Connecticut State University joined the conference as an affiliate member in football beginning in 2013.
2014 MASCAC Men's Soccer Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes In Parentheses)
| 1. | Bridgewater State | (6) | 48 points |
| 2. | Framingham State | (2) |
39 points |
| 3. | Worcester State | 38 points | |
| 4. | Massachusetts Maritime | 24 points | |
| 5. | Westfield State | 23 points | |
| 6. | Salem State | 21 points | |
| 7. | MCLA | 18 points | |
| 8. | Fitchburg State |
13 points | |