BOSTON – Three-time reigning America East men’s soccer champion New Hampshire was selected as the unanimous favorite to win the league this fall. The selection comes from the league’s head coaches and was unveiled as part of the preseason poll on Tuesday afternoon.
The Wildcats rank No. 20 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll on the heels of a spring season in which they ranked inside the nation’s top-ten and earned a bye to the second round of NCAAs. They received all eight possible first-place votes for a total of 64 points to lead the poll for the third-straight year. Vermont, which appeared in the #AEMSOC championship game last spring, earned the remaining first-place vote and compiled 57 points. After advancing to the postseason in its inaugural season, NJIT is third in the poll with 48 total points. Here is the full poll:
2021 America East Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll
No. School Points (1st Place Votes)
1. New Hampshire 64 (8)
2. Vermont 57 (1)
3. NJIT 48
4. UAlbany 33
5. UMass Lowell 31
6. UMBC 30
7. Hartford 28
8. Stony Brook 18
9. Binghamton 15
A trio of All-Americans headline a decorated group of student-athletes returning for the 2021 season. First-Team All-American and reigning #AEMSOC Defender of the Year Bridger Hansen is one of several accomplished Wildcats to return this fall. Fellow All-American Paul Mayer, 2020 Midfielder of the Year Rory O'Driscoll and 2020 Most Outstanding Player Victor Menudier will all be back in the blue and white. All-American Alex Nagy is back for Vermont and Striker of the Year Regsan Watkins returns for NJIT.
The season begins Thursday, Aug. 26 with all nine teams taking the pitch. Conference play begins Saturday, Sept. 18 as the league slate returns to a single round robin. Full schedule
The 2021 #AEMSOC championship will consist of the league’s top six teams and is scheduled to begin Sunday, Nov. 6 with quarterfinal action. The higher seed will host each game throughout the postseason.
Fans will once again be able to watch the majority of #AEMSOC this season. Select games will air on The AE on ESPN while others will air on AmericaEast.TV. Those games will be available on computers, OTT devices and the America East app, which is available on all IOS and Android devices and can be found by searching ‘America East Conference’ in app stores.
Follow the @AEDigitalNet Twitter account to stay up-to-date on America East men’s soccer news all season long and use #AEMSOC to join the conversation.
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.
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