Post by FU73 on Aug 14, 2018 10:11:36 GMT -5
The Fairfield University Men's Soccer team was selected #3 in the 2018 MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The results were announced by the conference office this morning. The poll and preseason all-conference team was chosen based upon the vote of the conference's head coaches.
The Stags were picked third in the preseason poll by collecting three of the 11 first-place votes. Fairfield's three top votes were second only to the preseason number one team Canisius College which garnered six of the 11 first-place selections and translated into 102 total points. Rider rounded out the first-place choices with two which helped the Broncs secure 101 total points.
Fairfield's 95 points enabled the program to move into the third-place slot while Quinnipiac University and Manhattan College rounded out the top five positions with 82 and 77 points, respectively.
Only seven points separated the fifth through seventh teams with Quinnipiac edging out Manhattan College (77 points) and Monmouth University (75 points). The poll was completed by Marist (64 points), Iona College (53 points), Siena College (37 points), Saint Peter's (23 points), and Niagara University (17 points).
The Stags will defend their 2017 MAAC regular-season and tournament championships after posting a 12-5-3 overall record and a 7-1-2 MAAC slate. Fairfield advanced to the 2017 NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament with its MAAC Championship that was won on Lessing Field, playing at the University of New Hampshire in the First Round but ended with a 0-3 loss.
The Men's Soccer program, under Head Coach Carl Rees, opens the 2018 season on August 27 at the University of New Hampshire. The game represents the first of five straight road games for the Stags as the team does not play its first home game until September 9 against Army West Point.
www.maacsports.com/news/2018/8/13/canisius-picked-as-mens-soccer-preseason-favorite-marists-allen-gavilanes-named-preseason-player-of-the-year.aspx
Stag Men's Soccer
MAAC Regular Season Champions (4): 1998, 2005, 2006, 2017
MAAC Tournament Champions (5): 1999, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2017
NCAA Tournament Appearances (5): 1999, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2017
MAAC Championships since 1988
Loyola* - 12
Fairfield - 5
Rider - 4
MAAC Championship Game Appearances since 1988
Loyola* - 17
Fairfield - 13
Rider - 6
* Loyola left the MAAC in 2013 for the Patriot League.
Since 1993, the MAAC is (5-22) in NCAA Tournament postseason games. Fairfield is (1-4) and Loyola was (3-4) and St Peter's is (1-3). The Stags won 2-1 against UCONN in 2006.
www.maacsports.com/sports/2012/9/14/205685268.aspx