PITMAN--After advancing to the second round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament en route to a 14-5-3 overall record, Montclair State was selected as the 2011 preseason men’s soccer favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Red Hawks will be seeking their 11th conference title since 1961. 

 

Montclair State, which captured four straight NJAC championships from 2006-09, was selected to finish first on three-of-the-ten ballots cast by the league head coaches. The 2010 Red Hawks finished fourth in the conference regular season with a 6-3-0 league mark before advancing to the NJAC Tournament semifinals. In 2011, MSU will be led by new rookie head coach Todd Tumelty. The Red Hawks return three all-league performers from their 2010 NCAA squad, including sophomore midfielder Dan Mendoza, junior back William O’Connor, and junior goalkeeper Anthony Rogic.

 

The College of New Jersey, which captured the 2010 NJAC Regular Season Championship with a 7-1-1 league record, was selected to finish second and received a league-high four first place votes. After claiming the NJAC regular season crown, the Lions advanced to the NJAC Championship Match, falling to eventual champion Kean in overtime. Led by the 2010 NJAC Coach of the Year in George Nazario, TCNJ has accumulated an overall mark of 168-109-33 during his 16 seasons. The Lions return three all-conference players from their NJAC regular season championship squad, including senior forward Ray Nelan, junior back Vince McEnroe, and senior back Ryan O’Donnell. 

 

William Paterson University, which advanced to the second round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament after receiving an at-large selection, was selected to place third and received one first place vote. The Pioneers produced a second place finish in 2010 with a 6-2-1 NJAC record en route to finishing 14-4-3 overall. Now in his 20th season at the helm of the WPU program, head coach Brian Woods has recorded an overall mark of 150-168-30. The Pioneers return one all-conference player from their 2010 NCAA squad in junior midfielder Michael Encarnacion.

Kean University, which in 2010 became the first NJAC program in any sport to capture a conference tournament title as a sixth seed, was selected to finish fourth and received one first place vote. After placing sixth in the regular season with a 4-5-0 NJAC mark, the Cougars produced two road wins and a road draw during a seven day period, including an overtime golden goal victory in the NJAC Championship Match to claim the conference crown and an automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Tournament. Led by 36th-year head coach Tony Ochrimenko, the Cougars have produced an overall record of 440-220-52, including a record of 10-11-3 in 2010. Kean returns four all-league performers from its 2010 NJAC Championship squad, including junior forward Tiago Goetzke, junior midfielder Abner Denis, junior midfielder Kharee Winslow, and senior back Joe Brisindi.

 

Richard Stockton College, which received an at-large selection to the 2010 NCAA Tournament en route to a 14-6-2 overall record, was selected to finish fifth and received one first place vote. Now in his 14th season at the helm of the Ospreys program, head coach Jeff Haines has guided Stockton to a 210-73-20 overall mark during his tenure. The Ospreys return one all-conference player from their 2010 NCAA squad, the 2010 NJAC Co-Rookie of the Year, sophomore goalkeeper Tim Brett. 

 

Ramapo College, led by eighth-year head coach D.J. Pinton, was selected to place sixth. The Roadrunners have produced an overall mark of 76-40-15 under Pinton, including a record of 11-3-4 in 2010. Ramapo returns a pair of all-league performers from 2010, including junior midfielder Jonathan Yazo, and the reigning NJAC Offensive Player of the Year in junior forward Rob Santaniello.

 

Rutgers University-Camden, which captured the ECAC Metro Tournament title with wins over FDU-Florham, Elmira, and top-seeded Drew in a five-day span, was selected to place seventh. Sixth-year head coach Tim Oswald has guided the Scarlet Raptors to an overall mark of 63-33-15, including a record of 13-8-1 in 2010. Rutgers-Camden returns a pair of all-league performers from its ECAC Championship side, including sophomore forward Mitch Grotti, and the 2010 NJAC Goalkeeper of the Year in senior Tim VanLiew.

 

The coaches’ dark horse selection, Rutgers-Newark was selected to place eighth. Fifth-year head coach Kevin East has guided the Scarlet Raiders to an overall mark of 44-34-8, while improving his career collegiate coaching record to 167-100-18. Rutgers-Newark returns one all-conference player from a team that advanced to the ECAC Metro Tournament Semifinals en route to a 12-9-1 overall record in senior back Bernardo Valle.

Rowan University, led by 36th-year head coach Dan Gilmore, was selected to place ninth. The Profs have produced a mark of 528-61-53 under Gilmore, including a record of 6-12-2 in 2010. Rowan returns one all-league player in junior midfielder Ryan Gordon.

New Jersey City University, led by third-year head coach Nansha Kalonji, was selected to place 10th. Kalonji guided the Gothic Knights to a 7-11-0 record in 2010. NJCU returns a pair of all-conference forward from 2010 in senior Walter Avans and junior Nana Kofi Kusi. 

 

The 53rd season of NJAC men’s soccer will kickoff on Thursday, September 1 with four teams in non-conference action. Conference play will begin on Wednesday, September 14 when Rowan hosts Montclair State. The top six regular season finishers will advance to the NJAC Championship Tournament which will begin with first round action on Saturday, October 29. The NJAC Tournament semifinals will be conducted on Wednesday, November 2, and the 2011 NJAC Championship Match will be played at the site of the highest remaining seed on Saturday, November 5. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.

2011 NJAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
1.	Montclair State (3)
2.	The College of New Jersey (4)
3.	William Paterson (1)
4.	Kean (1)
5.	Richard Stockton (1)
6.	Ramapo
7.	Rutgers-Camden
8.	Rutgers-Newark (dark horse)
9.	Rowan
10.	New Jersey City
First Place Votes In Parentheses