WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – 2015 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Goalkeeper of the Year and two-time Preseason MAAC Player of the Year, senior goalkeeper
Eric Klenofsky (Lincoln Park, NJ/DePaul Catholic) has been named to the College Soccer News Preseason All-America Third Team, the website has announced. Klenofsky joins recent Hawks
Matt Jeffery (2014) and Ryan Clark (2012) as Preseason All-America honorees.
“It is great to see Eric get this recognition,” said Monmouth Head Coach
Robert McCourt. “He is one of the top goalkeepers in the country. Eric is not only a talented player, but also a tremendous role model for our program. He is one of the hardest-working players we have had, both on the field and in the classroom. He has a bright future in soccer.”
In addition to the MAAC preseason accolades, Klenofsky was recently named by EverybodySoccer.com as one of the Top 24 American goalkeepers under 24 years old. Klenofsky is slated in at No. 11 on the list. He was also picked by TopDrawerSoccer.com as a top 10 goalkeeper in Division I for the second-consecutive season. Through three years, Klenofsky is a two-time NCAA Division I Statistical Champion in goals-against average, a three-time All-MAAC selection, the 2015 MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year and earned 2015 NSCAA All-Northeast Region First Team honors. He was also selected to the MAAC 35th Anniversary Team.
Klenofsky's 31 career victories in net are already second all-time in the MAAC, just seven behind the all-time leader. He's also posted 28 career shutouts, while he's the MAAC's all-time single-season record holder in goals-against average (0.22 in 2013) and save percentage (.914 in 2013). His 0.48 goals-against average and .880 save percentage in 2014 rank fourth and fifth, respectively, on the MAAC all-time single-season leaderboard.
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.
