WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – The Monmouth University men’s soccer team is ranked No. 30 in the College Soccer News 2016 Preseason National Poll, the website has announced. A fixture in the national polls during Head Coach Robert McCourt’s tenure with the Blue & White, Monmouth has now been ranked in each of the last 11 seasons. The Hawks achieved their highest-ever ranking in 2010, when they reached No. 4.
“It is wonderful to be recognized amongst the nation’s elite again,” said Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt. “There are some fantastic institutions listed in this poll. It an exciting time for us with some talented returning players and some really exciting, highly-touted recruits.”
The Preseason MAAC favorites and defending league regular season champions return several key players in 2016. MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree Anderson Asiedu (Dormaa Ahenkro, Ghana/St. Benedict’s) returns to patrol the midfield in his sophomore season, while MAAC Preseason Player of the Year Eric Klenofsky (Lincoln Park, NJ/DePaul Catholic) will keep things organized in the back in his senior season at goalkeeper. In addition to Asiedu and Klenofsky, senior forward Dave Nigro (Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro), sophomore back Zachary Pereira (Rahway, NJ/St. Benedict’s) and senior midfielder Colin Stripling (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) were also named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team.
The Hawks open the 2016 season at home on Friday, August 26 at 7 p.m. against the University of Denver, which is ranked No. 15 by College Soccer News and No. 20 by the NSCAA. The Hawks and Pioneers had two of the three longest unbeaten streaks in the nation last season. Denver went 15-1-3 a year ago, getting to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before taking its first loss. The 18-game unbeaten streak tied for the longest in the nation with Georgetown, one game ahead of the Hawks’ 17-game unbeaten streak. The match will be the first in the all-time series.