BOSTON – #17 Vermont handed Bryant its first loss of 2023 and went 2-0 last week to highlight a strong week for the conference. NJIT and UMBC also opened #AEMSOC action with victories this past Saturday.
The Catamounts scored in the second half against the Bulldogs, the first goal they’ve given up all year, and held off a late push to secure the three points. NJIT opened conference play with an impressive 4-1 victory over UMass Lowell, while UMBC edged UAlbany 2-1 to improve to 5-2-1 overall this year. Binghamton and #18 UNH played to a 0-0 draw.
On Monday morning the NCAA released its first RPI rankings of 2023, which is used to rank teams based on their overall success. The America East was ranked third nationally as a conference in RPI behind the Pac-12 and the ACC. The America and East and the ACC are currently the only two conference in the nation with five teams in the top-50 of RPI. Vermont leads at 9th, followed by Bryant (28), UMBC (37), NJIT (44) and New Hampshire (49).
Five teams have non-conference games this week, highlighted by the Catamounts at UMass and Wildcats hosting Harvard. UNH begins conference play this weekend by hosting UAlbany on Friday at 6 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s #AEMSOC Championship. On Saturday Vermont hosts UMass Lowell, while NJIT travels to Binghamton. UMBC welcomes Bryant for a 7 p.m. matchup in Maryland.
The preseason poll was announced on August 9
2023 #AEMSOC Weekly Award Winners – Sept. 25
Offensive Player of the Week
Yaniv Bazini, Vermont – RS-Jr., Forward, Beit Hanan, Israel
- Totaled one goal and one assist as Vermont won a pair of 1-0 contests.
- Factored into both of UVM's goals this week, assisted on the game-winner against Siena and then scored the game-winner at Bryant on Saturday night.
- Is the first to score a goal on Bryant this season.
- This is Bazini’s first career #AEMSOC Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Defensive Player of the Week
Jack Root, Binghamton – So., Goalkeeper, Buffalo, N.Y.
- In first Division I start, finished with four saves in a shutout draw against No. 18 New Hampshire.
- Made a diving save in the final five minutes to preserve the clean sheet and turned away 10 UNH corner kicks.
- This is Root’s first career #AEMSOC Defensive Player of the Week honor.
Rookie of the Week
Nick Lockermann, Vermont – Fr., Defense, Nuremberg, Germany
- Started as part of a back line which didn’t allow a goal over two contests.
- Shut out Bryant, who was 7-0 entering Saturday, while only giving up two shots on goal.
- This is Lockermann’s third 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
Sept. 25 – Offensive Player of the Week: Yaniv Bazini, Vermont; Defensive Player of the Week: Jack Root, Binghamton; Rookie of the Week: Nick Lockermann, Vermont
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.
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