RICHMOND, Va. – Ben Zakowski of the Monmouth University men's soccer team earned Preseason All-CAA honors on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Glen Rock, N.J., native garnered honorable mention recognition as the Hawks were picked to finish seventh in the 2022 CAA Preseason Poll.
 
Zakowski is coming off a junior campaign in which he led the team in points (15) and assists (5), while ranking second in goals scored with five. He tallied a goal in five different outings, including the game-winning score in the closing seconds of a home win versus Fairfield early in the conference slate. Zakowski additionally logged a pair of contests with at least one goal and one assist.
 
The defending CAA regular season and tournament champions, Hofstra, were picked to win the conference again after earning 81 points and nine of the 10 first-place votes in the preseason poll. UNCW was picked to finish second with 61 points, while Elon (59), Northeastern (55) and Drexel (53) rounded out the top-five. William & Mary was selected one spot ahead of Monmouth with 46 points as the Hawks received 33 points.
 
2022 PRESEASON ALL-CAA TEAM
CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Hendrik Hebbeker, Sr., M, Hofstra
Ryan Carmichael, Jr., F, Hofstra
Timothy Ennin, R-Sr., F, Northeastern
Diba Nwegbo, Sr., F, William & Mary
Hendrik Hebbeker, Sr., M, Hofstra
Alexander Levengood, Sr., M, William & Mary
Bachir Ndiaye, Sr., M, UNCW
Daniel Nesseler, Gr., M, Drexel
Federico Tellez, Jr., M, Northeastern
Kasper Lehm, Sr., D, Elon
Youri Senden, So., D, Drexel
Mason Tatafu, So., D, Hofstra
Jannik Videbaek, Sr., D, Elon
Wessel Speel, Jr., GK, Hofstra
 
Honorable Mention:
Jonas Bickus, Sr., F, Stony Brook
Stefan Mason, Sr., M, Hofstra
Gabriel Perrotta, Sr., GK, UNCW
Ben Zakowski, Sr., M, Monmouth
 
2022 CAA MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Hofstra – 81 (9 first-place votes)
2. UNCW – 61
3. Elon – 59
4. Northeastern – 55
5. Drexel – 53 (1)
6. William & Mary – 46
7. Monmouth – 33
8. Stony Brook – 25
9. Delaware – 23
10. College of Charleston – 14
 
The Hawks open their 2022 season at home on Aug. 25 when they welcome a St. John's team that is receiving votes in the national rankings for a 7 p.m. tilt at Hesse Field on the Great Lawn.

For more information on Monmouth men's soccer, visit MonmouthHawks.com and follow MonmouthSoccer on Twitter and Instagram.