PITMAN, NJ --- Montclair State, the conference champion in three of the last five seasons, has been tabbed once again as the preseason favorite to win the NJAC men’s soccer title.
The Red Hawks collected eight first-place votes in polling of the league’s 10 head coaches.
Ramapo, which won its first conference title in program history in the spring, was picked second. Rowan is back on the pitch this season and is predicted to finish third; the Profs also garnered two first-place votes. Rutgers-Camden is predicted fourth and Stockton – this year’s dark horse selection – is predicted fifth.
Rutgers-Newark is back on the pitch after not competing in the modified spring season and are picked sixth in the preseason poll. The Scarlet Raiders are followed by Kean (7th), William Paterson (8th), TCNJ (9th), and NJCU (10th).
The Red Hawks went 5-1 in the spring season including 4-0 in regular season play. They return a handful of all-conference players, and Head Coach Todd Tumelty is excited for the team chemistry that they have already established both on and off the pitch and the depth on both ends. Janbi Kaghado, the Spring 2021 Offensive Player of the Year and First Team honoree, returns for his junior season. He registered six points on two goals and two assists in the Red Hawks’ six contests, including two game-winning goals. Justin Goldberg, a Second Team All-NJAC pick, looks to anchor the midfield. He started all six spring games and for his career has 15 points on seven goals and one assist. Shane Keenan gained valuable experience between the posts in the spring, allowing just two goals and posting three shutouts in his first season. He was also the Second Team All-NJAC keeper.
Ramapo looks to build upon its first-ever program title in the spring. The Roadrunners went 5-1-1 including a championship match upset of Montclair State. They return a strong lineup up and down the pitch, including two major award winners from the spring. Josh Schaffer is once again between the posts. The Spring 2021 Goalkeeper of the Year has posted a sub-1.00 goals against average in the last two seasons and sports a .812 career save percentage with 13 career shutouts. Opponents will need to get through the Roadrunner defense, led by Spring 2021 Defensive Player of the Year Mark Buckel. He started all seven matches in his first season in the spring, and chipped in an assist as well. At the midfield, First Team honoree Thiago Stallhbaum looks to lead. Stallhbaum scored two goals last season and has seven career points on three goals and an assist. Damian Zurawski was the squad's leading scorer in the spring with seven points on two goals and three assists, among the conference leaders.
Rowan returns for the first time since 2019 and brings back a wealth of experience and talent up and down the field. Jay Vandermark, a 2019 All-NJAC First Team pick as a rookie, started 19 of 20 games that season and registered 25 points on 12 goals and an assist. Chad Yates will anchor the midfield. The 2019 all-conference honoree contributed three goals and three assists as a rookie. All-Conference keeper James Weinberg is back as a senior this season after posting three shutouts with a 1.14 goals against average in 2019. The Profs also welcome a number of newcomers looking to make an immediate impact.
Rutgers-Camden is well-positioned for a run in the NJAC this coming season. The Scarlet Raptors have five all-conference players back from the spring season that saw a run to the semifinals of the conference tournament. They are led by reigning Midfielder of the Year Kaito Kitazawa. In three seasons, Kitazawa has started 47 of 49 career games and has 18 career points on eight goals and two assists. Three-time all-conference forward Skyler Diggs will lead what should prove to be a prolific Raptor offense. Diggs, who has played in 70 career games and ranks seventh on Rutgers-Camden’s all-time career goals list (32), led all NJAC players with four goals in the shortened spring season. Diggs has also posted 12 career game-winning goals. Raimondo Partito anchored the defense in the spring. After an injury-shortened 2019 season, he played a big role in the back field in the spring and earned Second Team All-Conference honors. Head Coach Tim Oswald is excited for his returning core nucleus and a balanced incoming group, as well as a tough out-of-conference schedule to prepare for NJAC play.
Stockton, this year’s dark horse selection, returns all-conference players from the spring. Owen Kitch, a First Team defender, helped the Osprey back line post three team shutouts in the spring and limit opponents to 1.00 goals per game in his rookie season. Two-time all-conference player Ervin Gjeli returns at the midfield. Gjeli has started 43 of the last 44 games over the past three seasons so will provide experience and leadership on a team poised to surprise. He also provides an offensive spark as he has registered 37 career points on 13 goals and 11 assists including five game-winning scores.
Rutgers-Newark also returns to the pitch for the first time since 2019 with a handful of familiar names. Head Coach Kevin East is excited about his squad’s prolific scoring options, including the one-two punch of all-conference honorees Joe Alba and Franco Catania. Two-time all-conference pick Alba was also an all-region honoree in 2019, and has posted 16 points on five goals and six assists over two seasons in the midfield. Catania, an all-conference forward as a freshman in 2018, is the leading returning scorer with 50 career points on 23 goals and four assists. As a rookie playing in all 19 games, he scored 16 goals and helped on three others. He was in the midst of another great season in 2019, scoring seven goals and assisting on another in eight games before his season was cut short due to injury. Another familiar name is back in goal for the Scarlet Raiders, as two-time all-conference keeper and the 2017 Goalkeeper of the Year Andres Medina returns. Medina owns 23 career shutouts, a 0.87 career goals against average, and a career .839 save percentage.
Kean played one spring game before ending due to covid, so will return for its first full season since 2019. The Cougars return experience particularly in the back field but Head Coach Peter-John Falloon is pleased with the depth that his team is showing up and down the field. Senior left back Danny Guillen returns. He has started 47 of 54 career games so brings much senior leadership to the team. He has also contributed nine career points on two goals and five assists. Joining him is junior back Bend Alexandre who started 12 of 13 matches in 2019 and also chipped in two goals. 2019 all-conference keeper Dillon Konzelmann returns. The junior posted three shutouts in 2019 along with a 1.25 goals against average and .737 save percentage.
William Paterson went 2-2 in spring play and looks to build upon that with a combination of senior leadership and youth. On the offensive side, reigning Rookie of the Year Daniel Ramm was one of the conference leaders with five points on two goals and an assist in his debut season. He also converted a penalty kick in the spring. Second Team All-Conference honoree Jacob Von Giebel is also back after chipping in a goal in the shortened spring season. Defensively, Second Team All-Conference pick Johnny Gadaleta will anchor the back field. Thomas Hatch, an experienced keeper, will be between the posts. The 2019 all-conference pick is tied for eighth in Pioneer history in single-season saves.
TCNJ also returns to the pitch for the first time since 2019 and will also look to its senior leadership to guide the Lions after the long layoff. The Lions’ strength looks to be in the midfield, with seniors James Pike and Ryan Santos leading the way. Pike has started 36 of 39 career matches, and has registered 17 career points on five goals and three assists. Three of his career goals were game winners. Santos has 22 matches of starting experience and has 14 career points on four goals and six assists. Center back Joe Schlageter returns for his sophomore season. He made five starts in 16 appearances as a rookie two years ago while chipping in a goal.
NJCU is fielding a very young but very eager team this season. Head Coach Joe Cullen is excited for the promise of his young squad that is vying for playing time and is eager to prove themselves on the conference stage. The Gothic Knights will have some experience to guide them with all-conference senior back Nelson Segovia anchoring the defense. Segovia has started all 21 games in the past two seasons and has chipped in a goal and assist. Thiago Duarte gained valuable experience as rookie in the shortened spring season, starting all three matches he appeared in. Aldahir Cazun will be in the net for the Gothic Knights. In 17 career matches, he has 77 saves.
2021 NJAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll (first place votes in parentheses)
- Montclair State (8)
- Ramapo
- Rowan (2)
- Rutgers-Camden
- Stockton (dark horse)
- Rutgers-Newark
- Kean
- William Paterson
- TCNJ
- NJCU