PITMAN--After claiming their third consecutive NJAC Championship en route to a national runner-up finish in the 2013 NCAA Division III Tournament, Rutgers University-Camden has been selected as the 2013 men’s soccer preseason favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Scarlet Raptors will be seeking their fourth NJAC title in program history.

Selected to finish first on 5-of-the-10 ballots submitted by the league head coaches, Rutgers-Camden will look to build on the school’s most successful season in school history. The 2013 Scarlet Raptors finished 23-1-2 overall while capturing the NJAC regular season crown with a league-best 7-0-2 conference mark. Camden produced NCAA Tournament wins over Lycoming, York (PA), Montclair State, and Loras, before falling to eventual national champion Messiah, 2-1 in double overtime. 

Led by the 2013 NJAC Coach of the Year in Tim Oswald, Rutgers-Camden has produced a 122-39-22 overall mark during his tenure, including a record of 59-6-7 during the past three seasons. The Scarlet Raptors return a trio of all-conference players from their national runner-up squad, including senior back Joe Auleta, senior back Eric Cutry, and the reigning NJAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year in junior forward Mike Ryan.

Montclair State University, which advanced to the fourth round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament en route to a 17-4-3 overall record, was selected to place second and received two first place votes. After finishing second in the 2013 NJAC regular season race with a 6-1-2 league mark, the Red Hawks earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and produced wins over Carnegie Mellon and Rochester after advancing on penalties in the first round following a 1-1 draw with Misericordia. Led by fourth-year head coach Todd Tumelty, the Red Hawks have produced a 55-11-7 overall mark under his leadership. MSU returns three all-conference players from its 2013 NCAA Tournament team, including senior midfielder Maxx Wurzburger, senior back Jon Krzysik, and the reigning NJAC Midfielder of the Year in junior Lucas Terci.

Rutgers-Newark, which earned its first NCAA Tournament berth in program history in 2013, was selected to place third and received two first place votes. The 2013 Scarlet Raiders finished third in the NJAC race with a 6-2-1 league mark en route to a 17-6-1 record overall. Under the leadership of eighth-year head coach Kevin East, Newark has produced an 88-56-13 record, while East’s career collegiate coaching record stands at 211-122-24. Rutgers-Newark returns a league-high four all-conference players from its 2013 NCAA Tournament squad, including senior forward Patryk Dawidczyk, sophomore midfielder Anthony DeRisi, junior goalkeeper Matt Broomall, and the reigning NJAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year in senior forward Raphael Araujo.

Richard Stockton College, which claimed the championship of the 2013 ECAC Metro Tournament, was selected to place fourth. Now in his 17th season at the helm of the Ospreys program, head coach Jeff Haines has guided Stockton to a 249-93-29 overall mark, including a mark of 15-6-2 in 2013. The Ospreys return a pair of all-conference players from their 2013 ECAC championship squad, including junior back Clevon McPherson and the 2013 NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore forward Anthony Colofranson.

The College of New Jersey, which finished fourth in the 2013 NJAC regular season race with a 6-2-1 league mark, was selected to place fifth. Under the leadership of 20th-year head coach George Nazario, the Lions have accumulated an overall mark of 192-134-39, including a record of 12-6-2 in 2013. TCNJ returns a pair of all-conference players from 2013 in senior back Ryan Sullivan and junior back Greg Kaye.

The coaches’ dark horse selection, Rowan University was selected to place sixth and received one first place vote. The 2013 Profs will be led by new head coach Scott Baker. Baker inherits a Rowan squad that finished 10-9 overall in 2013 and returns one all-conference player in senior midfielder Shane Kohler.

William Paterson University, which advanced to the championship match of the 2013 ECAC Metro Tournament, was selected to place seventh. Now the longest-tenured NJAC head men’s soccer coach in his 23rd season, WPU’s Brian Woods has guided the Pioneers to a mark of 181-190-38, including a record of 9-9-3 in 2013. William Paterson returns a pair of all-conference performers from its 2013 ECAC runner-up squad, including junior back Aken Pierre, and the reigning NJAC Defensive Player of the Year in senior back Marcus Hackett.

Ramapo College, led by 11th-year head coach DJ Pinton, was selected to place eighth. The 2013 Roadrunners finished 7-9-2 overall, while Pinton’s career collegiate coaching record stands at 98-66-20. Ramapo returns a pair of all-conference players from its 2013 squad in junior midfielder Rob Shalikar and sophomore back Bayley Young.

Kean University, which will be led by new head coach Rob Irvine, was selected to place ninth. Irvine, who enters the season with a career collegiate coaching record of 22-14, inherits a Cougars squad which finished 9-10-1 overall in 2013.

New Jersey City University, under the leadership of third-year head coach Patrick Snyder, was selected to place 10th. The 2013 Gothic Knights finished 7-10-1 overall, giving Snyder 31 career collegiate coaching victories. NJCU returns one all-conference player from 2013 in junior forward Aboubacar Diawara.

The 56th season of NJAC men’s soccer will kick off on Friday, August 29 with nine league teams in non-conference action. Conference play will begin 22 days later on Saturday, September 20 with the first three league matches of the season.

The top six regular season finishers will advance to the NJAC Championship Tournament which will begin with first round action on Saturday, November 1. The NJAC Tournament semifinals will be conducted on Tuesday, November 4, and the 2014 NJAC Championship Match will be played at the site of the highest remaining seed on Friday, November 7. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.

2014 NJAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Rutgers-Camden (5)

2. Montclair State (2)

3. Rutgers-Newark (2)

4. Richard Stockton

5. The College of New Jersey

6. Rowan (1) (dark horse)

7. William Paterson

8. Ramapo

9. Kean

10. New Jersey City

First Place Votes In Parentheses