Westfield, Mass.— The 2018 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men’s soccer tournament champions Bridgewater State have been picked to win this season’s championship as selected by the eight coaches from around the league.

 

The Bears received four first place votes for 46 points. They finished last season 5-2 in league play. Returning in goal is All-Conference honoree Nate Morgado. Between the pipes last season, he led the conference in saves with 110 and wins with 11 while also registering a .775 save percentage and five shutouts. 

 

Earning the other four first place votes for a total of 44 points is Framingham State. The Rams were the 2018 regular season champions with a 5-0-2 mark in conference action. Reigning MASCAC Offensive Player of the Year Bryce Nardizzi looks to repeat the success from last season. He netted 15 goals and nine assists for 39 points, including six game-winning goals. Goals, points and game-winners all led the league while assists was second-best in the MASCAC.

 

Salem State is next in third with 43 points.The Vikings were 4-1-2 last season. Lucas Amaral netted four goals and four assists for 12 with three game-winners which led him to spot on the All-Conference team.

 

Landing in the fourth slot is Worcester State with 29 points. The Lancers were 4-2-1 during the league slate.Henri Guilmette returns for the team after collecting 102 saves with a 1.21 GAA and .823 save percentage on his way to six wins, including three shutouts.

 

Coming in fifth is Westfield State with 26 points. The Owls were 3-1-3 last season. Back in goal is All-Conference team member Tyler Diotalevi who led the league in GAA (0.65), save percentage (.894) and goals against (7). He also made 59 saves with six wins, including four shutouts.   

 

Sitting in sixth with 17 points is Massachusetts Maritime. The Buccaneers tallied a win in MASCAC play last year. Leading the way in 2018 was Adam Crawford who tallied two goals for four points, including a game-winner on his way to All-Conference honors.

 

With the seventh and eighth spot in the 2019 preseason poll are Fitchburg State and MCLA. The Falcons had two league wins in 2018. Yannick DePina netted four goals and two assists for 10 points. For the Trailblazers, Garrett Derosia returns after leading the team with four goals for eight points. 

 

Kicking off the men’s soccer season this weekend, seven of the eight MASCAC schools will compete in non-conference action beginning on Friday. 

 

 

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

 

1. Bridgewater State   (4)               46 points

2. Framingham State  (4)               44 points

3. Salem State                              43 points

4. Worcester State                         29 points

5. Westfield State                          26 points

6. Massachusetts Maritime             17 points

7. Fitchburg State                         12 points

8. MCLA                                        7 points