PITMAN --- Montclair State garnered eight first-place votes and has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the 2022 NJAC Men’s Soccer title, based on a vote of the league’s 10 head coaches.
Rutgers-Newark was predicted to finish second in this year’s standings. Rowan and Kean picked up one first-place vote each and are predicted third and fourth overall, respectively. Stockton comes in at fifth followed by Ramapo sixth. Rutgers-Camden was voted as this year’s dark horse team to watch and is predicted seventh overall. TCNJ, William Paterson, and NJCU round out the 2022 preseason poll.
Montclair State enters the season ranked No. 23 in the United Soccer Coaches’ national preseason poll, with Rowan and Kean also receiving votes.
The Red Hawks, who went 17-4-1 last year and won the regular season title with an 8-1 NJAC mark, return a power-packed lineup. Reigning NJAC Rookie of the Year Amer Lukovic will once again pace the offense; he racked up 39 points on 17 goals and five assists last year to rank second in overall scoring. 2021 NJAC Pat Baldiserra Midfielder of the Year Josiah Crawford returns to lead the midfield unit. He tied for third in the NJAC last season with six assists and added five goals for a total of 16 points. First Team defender Ian Chesney will anchor MSU’s staunch defense. He played over 1700 minutes as a rookie last year, helping the back line limit opponents to just 13 total goals all season (0.59 per game). Head Coach Todd Tumelty also welcomes two Division I transfers in goalkeeper Boris De Valle (DePaul) and forward El Hadji Gueye (High Point). The young but experienced squad is eyeing another return to the NCAA Tournament after earning an at-large berth last year and advancing to the Second Round.
Rutgers-Newark returns a trio of all-conference honorees from a squad that finished second in the NJAC last season and advanced to both the NJAC and ECAC Tournament finals. The Scarlet Raiders welcome back the conference’s leading scorer, reigning NJAC Offensive Player of the Year Franco Catania. Catania amassed 45 points on 20 goals and five assists. Sophomore Jonah Dias will anchor the Raiders’ defense once again after earning NJAC First Team honors in his rookie season last year. He helped the back line limit opponents to just over a goal a game. Between the high-powered offense and staunch defense, the Scarlet Raiders ranked second in the NJAC last season in scoring margin. All-Conference pick Joe Alba is back and will lead the midfield unit; he set up four goals last season to rank among the conference’s top 10 in assists. Head Coach Kevin East also welcomes several key newcomers, including transfer Jonathan Calixto (FDU-Teaneck) along with rookies Christopher Rodriguez-Osorio (Howell) and Eduardo Ribiero (Long Branch).
Rowan, picked third in this year’s poll, brings back key players from last season’s squad that advanced to the NJAC Championship match and earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. Two-time all-conference pick Chad Yates is the leading returning scorer, netting five goals and assisting on five more for a total of 15 points. His five assists were among the top 10 in the NJAC. Second Team honoree Luke Yates returns to anchor the Profs’ back line that allowed just 17 goals (0.89 per game) in 2021. He played over 1560 minutes, the most of any Prof last year. Head Coach Scott Baker also looks for sophomore forward Gil Ferreira to handle more scoring duties this season after gaining experience last year. He also looks for Division I transfer Mason Martelloni (Manhattan College) along with rookies Davide Caputo (Brick) and Ryan Gale (Triton) to make immediate impacts this year.
Kean looks to capitalize on last year’s run to the NJAC title and NCAA berth. The Cougars, third in last year’s standings, captured the league crown with a thrilling penalty kick shootout victory. Goalkeeper Dominic Ridge, who came up with huge stops in that match, is back for his sophomore season. The all-conference keeper posted six shutouts as a rookie and recorded a .774 save percentage on the season. Shaq Bryan, a Second Team pick last year, will once again anchor the Cougar defense. Gabe Llanos, who started all 18 matches and played over 1450 minutes, will head the midfield unit. Head Coach Peter-John Falloon also welcomes Division II transfer Bryan Shields to shore up the defense.
Stockton, fifth in this year’s poll, brings back key players at each of the field positions. Three-time NJAC all-conference honoree James McCombs will anchor the defense, coming off of a season where the Osprey back line limited opponents to just over a goal a game (1.05). All-conference midfielder Peter Kozlej returns for his senior season after starting all 20 games last year and chipping in a goal and two assists. Leading scorer Joseph Carbone also returns to lead the Osprey offense; he posted 20 points on nine goals and two assists as a rookie last year. Head Coach Greg Ruttler welcomes a handful of newcomers vying for immediate time, including Aiden Hoenisch (Notre Dame HS), Jake Homowitz (Christian Brothers Academy), Lincoln Ormsby (Maple Shade), and Jack Gabler (Scotland Sports Campus).
Ramapo will be in the mix for an NJAC tournament spot once again, as the Roadrunners are predicted sixth. Defense is the name of the game for Head Coach DJ Pinton’s squad, as he welcomes back two all-conference backs. Junior Mark Buckel is a two-time First Team honoree and also chipped in a pair of goals last season. He is joined on the back line by two-time all-conference pick Ederson La Torre, who started all 14 games he appeared in last year. He also contributed a pair of goals and an assist. Osbin Mendez, a Second Team pick last year, will head the midfield unit once again. He registered three assists and added a goal last season.
Rutgers-Camden, this year’s dark horse selection, brings in a talented group of newcomers along with a core of returners. The Scarlet Raptors will need to replace the services of four-time all-conference honoree Skyler Diggs and three-time all-conference pick Kaito Kitazawa, but should be well positioned with a pair of two-time all-conference honorees in Raimondo Partito and Christian McCartney leading the squad. McCartney, a senior mid, was among the top 10 in the NJAC last year in assists with four. Partito anchored the Raptors’ back line, starting all 16 games and chipping in one goal. Head Coach Tim Oswald welcomes a large group of newcomers, including transfer Daniel Tittlemayer (Arcadia) and rookie Joe Lodise (Roman Catholic (PA)) who should be in the mix right away.
TCNJ looks to improve upon last year’s record and will have three all-conference players back to lead the way, including the top two scorers. Leading scorer Justin Dominique returns after amassing 26 points on 12 goals and two assists. He ranked tied for third in the NJAC in goals and fourth in points, while ranking tied for second in the conference with five game-winning goals. All-Conference midfielder Luke Pascarella returns; he was second on last year’s squad with 15 points on five goals and five assists. Joe Schlageter will anchor the back line after earning all-conference accolades last year; he saw over 1600 minutes on the pitch and contributed a goal and assist.
William Paterson has a new leader at the helm this year as alum Matt Heitmann takes over for Brian Woods, who retired after 30 seasons on the sidelines. Heitmann served the prior 11 seasons on Woods’ staff before taking over the top spot in the offseason. He has a solid group to work with this year, including a pair of all-conference returners in Thomas Hatch and Alfredo Rojas. Hatch, a two-time all-conference keeper, posted a .784 save percentage and two shutouts last year. Rojas, a junior mid, started 13 of 14 matches he appeared in last year and chipped in a goal. Heitmann also looks to junior Delvin Nketia to anchor the back line after gaining valuable experience last season. He will be joined by newcomer Jimmy Bruno (Manalapan) who looks to make an immediate impact on the Pioneer defense.
NJCU will field a very young team this year, with the top returners only in their sophomore seasons. Forward Maximo Vargas had a very productive rookie season in 2021, ranking fifth in the NJAC in both goals (10) and points (22) and earning all-conference accolades. Fellow all-conference pick and classmate Anthony Salmeron will anchor the Gothic Knights’ defense. Salmeron started all 16 games he appeared in and chipped in a pair of goals as well. Classmate Thiago Duarte will lead the midfield unit; he ranked tied for third in the NJAC with six assists in his rookie season. He added three goals for a total of 12 points. Head Coach Joe Cullen also welcomes an eager group of newcomers, including transfer Sergio Tarrida (Campbellsville) and Juan Vizcaino (Clifton).
The 2022 season kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 1, as seven of the 10 programs are in action on opening day. The remainder open over Labor Day weekend.
2022 NJAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll (first place votes in parentheses)
1. Montclair State (8)
2. Rutgers-Newark
3. Rowan (1)
4. Kean (1)
5. Stockton
6. Ramapo
7. Rutgers-Camden (dark horse)
8. TCNJ
9. William Paterson
10. NJCU