MONMOUTH MEN'S SOCCER WEEKEND PREVIEW

Friday, August 28, 2015
Monmouth (0-0-0) at UMass Lowell (0-0-0)
Location: Cushing Field – Lowell, Mass.
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Live Video: www.AmericaEast.tv
Live Stats: www.GoRiverHawks.com

Sunday, August 30, 2015
Monmouth (0-0-0) at #7 Providence (0-0-0)
Location: Ray Treacy Track – Providence, RI
Kickoff: 4:00 p.m.
Live Video: www.Friars.com
Live Stats: www.Friars.com

The Monmouth University men's soccer team opens the 2015 regular season this weekend, when it travels to UMass Lowell Friday and nationally-ranked No. 7 Providence on Sunday. Fresh off their fifth NCAA Tournament berth in the last nine years under Head Coach Robert McCourt, the Hawks have once again been picked to win the MAAC this season.

BREAKING DOWN THE UMASS LOWELL RIVER HAWKS
UMass Lowell is in the third of a four-year NCAA Division I reclassification process after joining the America East Conference in 2013-14. The River Hawks are led by junior Wuilito Fernandes, who led the River Hawks with five goals and 12 points en route to All-East Region and All-America East First Team honors in 2014. Fellow All-America East First Teamer Carlos Ruiz (3G, 3A) and junior Guilherme Rodrigues (2G, 3A) also return in the midfield for UMass Lowell. America East Co-Rookie of the Year Austin Kroll is back in net for his sophomore season after posting a 1.26 goals-against average and a .800 save percentage. Monmouth won last year's meeting, the first in the two programs' histories, by a 5-0 score.

BREAKING DOWN THE PROVIDENCE FRIARS
Providence advanced to the NCAA College Cup last season, with junior Mac Steeves scoring twice in the national semifinals before the Friars fell to No. 2 UCLA in overtime. Steeves was named the College Cup Most Outstanding Offensive Player, becoming the first player from a team not advancing to the final to receive the award in 31 years. Steeves, an All-Great Lakes Region Third Team selection, led the Friars with 11 goals and 26 points on the season. Providence, ranked seventh in the country in the NSCAA Preseason Poll, also returns Julian Gressel (5G, 5A), Dominik Machado (5G, 2A), Manny Andrade (2G) and Phil Towler (1G, 2A), but must replace seven starters including goalkeeper Keasel Broome, who played every second in net for the Friars last season. Monmouth won the only match in the all-time series, 3-1, on The Great Lawn in 2012.

RUBBING ELBOWS WITH THE NATION'S BEST
A fixture in the national polls over the last several years, the Hawks are currently ranked No. 21 in the Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Poll and receiving votes in the College Soccer News Preseason Top 30 Poll. Monmouth reached a program-high of the No. 4 ranking in 2010.

THE GOLD STANDARD
Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt's teams have won eight conference regular season titles in his 11 years directing the program and his peers have once again chosen his team to win the league in 2015. Included in the feat are five conference tournament championships in the last nine years and the accompanying NCAA Tournament berths.

PRESEASON HONORS
Eric Klenofsky was named the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year after leading the nation in goals-against average in each of the last two seasons. Derek Luke and Dave Nigro joined Klenofsky on the Preseason All-MAAC Team.

PLENTY BACK FOR THE HAWKS
What Monmouth lost in quality from the 2014 squad in All-MAAC performers Matt Jeffery, Dom Sarle and Emmanuel Senyah Agyemang, the Hawks make up for with eight starters returning. Klenofsky, David Acuna Camacho and Derek Luke lead a defense that led the nation in goals-against average (0.48) and save percentage (.883). Meanwhile Dave Nigro leads the offense having scored the game-winning goal in double overtime of the MAAC Championship to cap off a five-goal, three-assist campaign. Brandon McCarthy also returns after scoring three goals and adding an assist, while Luke came up from the back line to tally a team-best six assists. Andrew Gee came on late in the season to score twice and add an assist, while Miguel Alves scored a goal and handed out three assists. John Egan played a pivotal role in the midfield and added a goal and an assist.  

ACCLAIMED INCOMING CLASS
College Soccer News ranked the Hawks' incoming class No. 22 in the country. Anderson Asiedu leads the group as a 2014 Top Drawer Soccer Fall High School All-America First Team and 2015 Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Best XI honoree, while Danny Figarella was named to the All-America Second Team. Asiedu, Figarella and Daniel Aversano were selected to the Top Drawer Soccer Fall All-East Region Team, while Chase Covello and Zachary Pereira joined Asiedu, Aversano and Figarella on their respective Top Drawer Soccer Fall All-State Teams. Also joining the Hawks this season are sophomore Memphis transfer Spencer Moeller and freshmen Jalil Blalock and Jassiem Wahtuse.