WINTHROP, Mass. – The
Rivier men's soccer team finished second in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference announced Friday afternoon.
The Raiders earned 154 points, including three first-place votes.
Rivier finished second overall last season with a record of 9-5-7 (8-2-2 GNAC), earning the right to host the GNAC Quarterfinal and Semifinal contests. Following wins over No. 7 Emmanuel (Mass.) and No. 6 Norwich, the Raiders advanced to their first
GNAC Championship game since 1996, where they fell 3-2 to No. 1 Saint Joseph (Conn.).
The Raiders return several key contributors, including All-Region selection
Luiggi Ferreira and All-Conference honorees
Alejandro Quezada and
Matthews Ferreira. L. Ferreira served as a cornerstone of the Raiders' defense, which allowed the fewest goals in conference play. Quezada paced the offense with 15 points on six goals and three assists. M. Ferreira played a vital role in the midfield, generating offense while adding one goal and three assists of his own. The now sophomore tandem of
Tanner Keenan and
David Pereira filled out the stats sheet in their first-year campaigns, combining for 27-point on 11 goals and five assists just a season ago.
Following three exhibition games, the Raiders open the regular season with a non-conference road match at Fitchburg St. on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Kickoff is slated for 4:00 p.m. at the Eliot Field Athletic Complex.
Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
- University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) (9) - 164
- Rivier (3) - 154
- Saint Joseph's (Maine) (1) - 137
- Norwich - 115
- Albertus Magnus - 114
- Regis - 104
- Emmanuel - 99
- Dean - 85
- New England College - 68
- Colby-Sawyer - 52
- Elms - 37
- Lasell - 33
- Mitchell - 21
