August 22, 2007

MONTCLAIR STATE SELECTED AS MEN'S SOCCER FAVORITE
IN POLL OF LEAGUE'S HEAD COACHES

DEFENDING NJAC CHAMPS SEEKING THEIR EIGHTH CROWN SINCE 1961

After capturing the 2006 NJAC Championship while advancing to the third round of the NCAA Tournament, Montclair State University was selected as the 2007 preseason men's soccer favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Red Hawks, who posted a 20-1-1 overall record in 2006, are seeking their eighth conference crown since 1961.
 
Montclair State, led by 2006 NJAC Coach of the Year Brian Sentowski, was selected to finish first on seven-of-the-ten ballots cast by the league head coaches. Under the direction of the sixth-year head coach, the Red Hawks have posted an overall record of 72-22-11. MSU posted a perfect 9-0-0 conference record in 2006 and captured the conference crown via a 2-1 double overtime victory over NJCU in the league championship match. The Red Hawks return a pair of all-conference players in junior forward Tyler Masterson and junior back Eric Pfeifer.
 
Richard Stockton College was selected to finish second in the poll and received one first place vote. Under the direction of 10th-year head coach Jeff Haines, the Ospreys have posted an overall record of 157-44-14, including a mark of 14-6-2 in 2006. Stockton, which advanced to the semifinals of the ECAC Metro NY/NJ Tournament, returns the reigning NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore forward Sean McCallum. In addition, the Ospreys return a pair of all--conference performers in senior midfielder Eric Lewis and junior goalkeeper Matt Hart.

Kean University was selected to place third and received two first place votes. Under the leadership of 32nd-year head coach Tony Ochrimenko, the Cougars have posted a mark of 407-179-44. In 2006, Ochrimenko's squad posted a record of 10-8-5 while advancing to the semifinals of the ECAC Metro NY/NJ Tournament. Kean returns a league-high five all-conference players including the reigning NJAC Offensive Player of the Year in senior forward Anthony Tuesta. In addition, the Cougars return all-league performers in senior back Konrad Kruczek, senior midfielder Damien Serafin, senior back Thomas Fink, and senior goalkeeper Kyle Crego.

Rutgers University-Camden, led by second-year head coach Tim Oswald, was selected to place fourth. In his rookie season at the helm of the Scarlet Raptor program, Oswald led Camden to a 13-4-6 overall mark while guiding the Raptors to the championship of the ECAC Metro NY/NJ Tournament. Rutgers-Camden returns a trio of all-conference performers from its ECAC championship squad including junior forward Andrew Dorsey, senior back Chris Amato, and senior back Ryan Evans.

Rowan University, led by 32nd-year head coach Dan Gilmore, was selected to place fifth. Under Gilmore's leadership, the Profs have accumulated a 490-126-45 record, including a mark of 10-8-2 in 2006. The Profs return one all-conference player in junior back Eric Campesi.

New Jersey City University, which in 2006 advanced to the championship matches of both the NJAC and ECAC Metro NY/NJ Tournaments, was selected to place sixth. Led by new first-year head coach Cristian da Silva, the Gothic Knights return three all-conference players from a 2006 squad which finished 17-6-2 including junior forward Edison Bilbao, junior midfielder Cristian Acuna, and senior goalkeeper Bruce Neves.

The College of New Jersey, which captured the NJAC crown in 2005, was selected to place seventh. Led by 13th-year head coach George Nazario, TCNJ has produced a 133-82-20 overall mark during his tenure. The Lions return a trio of all-conference performers in senior midfielder Joe McGinley, senior back Frank Fiorilli, and senior midfielder Craig Langan.

Ramapo College, under the leadership of fourth-year head coach DJ Pinton, was selected to place eighth. The Roadrunners have tallied a 36-17-5 overall record during Pinton's tenure, including a mark of 10-7-1 in 2006 culminating in a berth in the ECAC Metro NY/NJ Tournament. The Roadrunners return a trio of all-conference performers including junior forward Benji Eggart, junior back Ryan Lahey, and senior midfielder Arturo Moreria. 

The coaches' dark horse selection, Rutgers University-Newark, was selected to place ninth. The Scarlet Raiders will be led by new head coach Kevin East, who makes the jump to the Newark program after tallying a 123-66-11 record in nine seasons at NJCU. The Scarlet Raiders return a pair of all-league performers in senior midfielder Joe Tutalo and senior forward Nicola Ratto.

William Paterson University, led by 16th-year head coach Brian Woods, was selected to place 10th. The Pioneers return one all-conference performer in senior goalkeeper David Casper. 

The 49th season of NJAC men's soccer will kickoff on Friday, August 31 with eight league teams in non-conference action. Conference play will begin on Saturday, September 15. The top six regular season finishers will advance to the NJAC Championship Tournament which will begin with first round action on Saturday, October 27. The NJAC Tournament semifinals will be conducted on Wednesday, October 31, and the league championship match will be played at the site of the highest remaining seed on Saturday, November 3. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.