BOSTON – Seven programs started their 2024 campaigns this past week, with six earning at least one draw. Binghamton, UMass Lowell, UMBC and NJIT are all still unbeaten after the first week of action.
Need to Know:
- Binghamton started its season with a pair of shutouts for the first time since 2007, taking down Mount St. Mary’s and Le Moyne, while the River Hawks drew 1-1 with Lafayette and shut out Central Connecticut State 2-0.
- UMass Lowell went 1-0-1 last week, heighted by a 2-0 win over Central Connecticut State.
- UMBC started the season 0-0-1 thanks to a goal in the final five minutes to earn a 1-1 tie against Maryland.
- NJIT earned a 1-1 draw with Loyola Maryland at home with a late goal.
- No. 9 New Hampshire earned a 0-0 tie against Boston University in its opener before falling to No. 12 Western Michigan 1-0 yesterday. The Wildcats did outshoot the Broncos 21-8.
- No. 14 Vermont fell to Western Michigan 3-1 on the road this past Thursday.
Three games are on the schedule tonight in #AEMSOC action, highlighted by Bryant opening its season up at home against UMass. UMBC is also at home against Howard, with both contests on ESPN+. No. 9 New Hampshire hosts William & Mary on Saturday as the Wildcats look for their first win, while No. 14 Vermont is at UC Irvine Thursday evening at 10 p.m. (ET).
2024 #AEMSOC Weekly Award Winners – Aug. 26
Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Sergio Martinez Cubel, NJIT – Jr. Midfield, Sedavi, Spain
- Scored on a PK in the 81st minute to pull even with Loyola Maryland as the Highlanders earned a 1-1 draw in their lone contest of the week.
- Recorded two shots in the contest.
- This is Martinez Cubel’s first #AEMSOC Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Joseph Picotto, UMBC – Jr., Midfield, Pinerolo, Italy
- Headed in a cross in the 87th minute to draw even with Maryland and secure a 1-1 tie for UMBC against the Terrapins.
- Totaled two shots in 77 minutes of action.
- This is Picotto’s first #AEMSOC Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Defensive Player of the Week
JR Gawel, UMass Lowell – Jr., Goalkeeper, Leonardtown, Md.
- Went 1-0-1, with a 0.500 GAA and nine saves while facing 17 shots.
- Allowed one goal with six saves in a 1-1 draw with Lafayette.
- Made three saves in a 2-0 shutout of Central Connecticut State.
- This is Gawel’s first #AEMSOC Defensive Player of the Week honor.
Rookie of the Week
Matteo Costa, UMass Lowell – Fr., Midfield, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Registered an assist and one shot in a 2-0 win over CCSU.
- Helped the River Hawks start the season 1-0-1, starting in a win over CCSU and a 1-1 draw with Lafayette.
- This is Costa’s first #AEMSOC Rookie of the Week honor.
Links
2024 #AEMSOC Weekly Award Winners
Aug. 26 – Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Sergio Martinez Cubel, NJIT; Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Joseph Picotto, UMBC; Defensive Player of the Week: JD Gawel, UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Matteo Costa, UMass Lowell
The America East is one of the best men’s soccer conferences in the country. In 2023 the league finished sixth in RPI among all conference and three teams were selected to the NCAA Tournament. Overall 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 three years. 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.
ABOUT AMERICA EAST
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference its social media channels, @AmericaEast.
- America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -