BOSTON – Bryant earned a pair of shutout victories to improve to 6-0, while seven #AEMSOC teams secured at least one point for the second straight week.
Currently six programs have a record of .500 or better, led by the Bulldogs at 6-0. Following Bryant’s 1-0 win over Brown, they are one of two teams remaining in the country without a loss or a draw this year. The team is also one of two in the nation that has yet to concede a single goal. The 6-0 start is the best for an #AEMSOC program since UNH opened 2021 with a 12-0 record.
On Friday, the #21 Wildcats improved to 4-1-1 with a 3-1 victory over Princeton. #12 Vermont moved to 4-1-1 with a 1-1 draw at Harvard, while UMBC is also 4-1-1 after its 2-1 victory against #25 Cornell on Saturday. NJIT won a pair of contests last week to improve to 3-2-2, and UMass Lowell is 2-2-2 following a 5-0 win on Saturday.
Six teams compete in non-conference contests on Tuesday before #AEMSOC action begins with a full slate of contests on Saturday. Bryant looks to keep up its impressive start against #12 Vermont at home on ESPN+ at 7 p.m., while #21 UNH travels to battle Binghamton at 6 p.m. on ESPN+. UAlbany hosts UMBC at 6 p.m., and UMass Lowell travels to NJIT for a 7 p.m. bout to round out conference action.
The preseason poll was announced on August 9
2023 #AEMSOC Weekly Award Winners – Sept. 18
Offensive Player of the Week
Maximus Barboto, NJIT – So., Midfield, Wayne, N.J.
- Dished off four assists in a pair of victories, to lead the nation with eight total assists.
- Posted two assists in a 3-2 win over La Salle and added two more in a 4-0 shutout of Sacred Heart
- This is Barboto’s first career #AEMSOC Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Defensive Player of the Week
Javier Soler Gandia, Bryant – Sr., Defense, Ontinyent, Spain
- Scored once as Bryant and anchored a defense which had two shutouts and allowed just one shot on goal while improving to 6-0.
- Tallied a goal in a 4-0 win over Stonehill and didn’t allow a shot on goal.
- Helped limit Brown to a single shot on goal as Bryant won 1-0.
- This is Gandia’ first career #AEMSOC Defensive Player of the Week honor.
Rookie of the Week
Austin Bush, New Hampshire – Fr., Forward, Southampton, Mass
- Scored once in 3-1 victory over Princeton
- Tallied third goal as UNH improved to 4-1-1
- This is Bush’s first #AEMSOC Rookie of the Week honor.
2023 #AEMSOC Weekly Award Winners
Aug. 28 – Offensive Player of the Week: Taylor Calheira, UMBC; Defensive Player of the Week: Talabi Abdel, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: Nick Lockermann, Vermont
Sept. 5 – Offensive Player of the Week: Goncalo Franco, NJIT; Defensive Player of the Week: Owen Jack, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: Daniele Mastroianni, UMass Lowell
Sept. 11 – Offensive Player of the Week: Vicente Valor Martinez, Bryant; Defensive Player of the Week: Tiago Dias, UAlbany; Rookie of the Week: Nick Lockermann, Vermont
Sept. 18– Offensive Player of the Week: Maximus Barboto, NJIT; Defensive Player of the Week: Javier Soler Gandia, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: Austin Bush, New Hampshire
The America East is one of the best men’s soccer conferences in the country. The conference has received multiple bids to the NCAA tournament in four of the past eight seasons, with Vermont and New Hampshire reaching each of the past two years. Overall, four different teams have reached the third round of the NCAA tournament since 2014, highlighted by UMBC getting all the way to the College Cup in 2014.
Fans will once again be able to watch nearly every #AEMSOC contest 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 @AEGameday 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.
- Building the Complete Student-Athlete –