PITMAN — Defending NJAC champion Montclair State has been predicted to repeat in 2024, based on preseason polling of the conference’s 10 head coaches. The Red Hawks garnered five of the possible 10 first place votes.
Rowan, which finished runner-up last year, picked up four first place votes and is predicted second again this season. Stockton is predicted third and Kean – which garnered one first place vote – is slotted fourth. Rutgers-Camden and Rutgers-Newark round out the top six predicted to qualify for the six-team conference tournament. Ramapo, dark horse choice NJCU, William Paterson, and TCNJ round out the preseason poll.
The season opens on Friday, Aug. 30, with all but two teams in action on day one. NJCU and Ramapo then open on Saturday, Aug. 31.
The top six teams in the regular season NJAC standings will qualify for the conference tournament with a chance to win the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The conference tournament opens on Saturday, Nov. 2, with the quarterfinals. The semifinals are set for Tuesday, Nov. 5, while the championship game is slated for Friday, Nov. 8.
2024 NJAC MEN’S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
(first place votes in parentheses)
- Montclair State (5)
- Rowan (4)
- Stockton
- Kean (1)
- Rutgers-Camden
- Rutgers-Newark
- Ramapo
- NJCU (dark horse)
- William Paterson
- TCNJ
MONTCLAIR STATE
The Red Hawks - ranked No. 12 in the United Soccer Coaches national preseason poll - look to defend their conference title this season after finishing 19-2-2 last year and a perfect 9-0 in NJAC play. They will have plenty of personnel to not only make a run in the NJAC but potentially the NCAA Tournament as well, especially with their top two scorers returning. Reigning Division III National Player of the Year and NJAC Offensive Player of the Year Amer Lukovic is back. The nation’s leading scorer last year, Lukovic was nearly unstoppable with 34 goals and seven assists for a whopping 75 points. He is known to come up in big moments, with 11 of his goals being credited as the game winners. Reigning NJAC Midfielder of the Year and two-time all-conference pick Owen Murphy ranked among the top seven in both points (18) and assists (6) last year. The Montclair State defense is also a wall, with reigning Co-Defensive Player of the Year and three-time all-conference pick Ian Chesney along with three-time all-conference pick Osbin Mendez manning the backfield. They helped the team limit opponents to just 0.74 goals per game last season. Both provide scoring sparks as well, with Mendez leading the NJAC in assists last year with eight and Chesney recording 10 points on two goals and six assists.
Newcomers to Watch: Diego Flores (Harrison HS), Daniel Ramm (St. John’s University)
Head Coach Todd Tumelty: “We are excited to start the 2024 campaign. We return a number of starters from last year's team and I think we have added a few key pieces in this year's recruiting class.”
ROWAN
With most of their all-conference players back from last season, the Profs look to contend once again in the NJAC after finishing as the regular season runner-up in 2023. The second-best offense in the conference last year, All-NJAC First Team players Johnny Troiano and Davide Caputo are back to lead the scoring attack. Troiano ranked second in the NJAC in points (35) and goals (15) last year, was seventh in assists (5), and potted four game-winning goals. Caputo, also a First Team selection, dished out the second-highest amount of assists (7) in the league last year and ranked second on the Rowan squad in points with 13. Defensively, two-time all-conference back Ryan Cleary returns to man the back line. Midfielder Turlough Gartlan helps shore up the defense while also providing a scoring option after tallying three goals and assisting twice.
Newcomers to Watch: Dylan Huseinovic (M; Fairleigh Dickinson), Mo Rocher (M; Rider), Devin Stone (M; Enloe Magnet HS (NC))
Head Coach Scott Baker: “Rowan returns a strong group of upperclassmen. The team will face one of the toughest out of conference schedules in the country. The Profs have the talent and experience to have a great season.”
STOCKTON
The Ospreys are coming off a terrific 2023 campaign that saw them finish fourth in the NJAC and pick up 11 wins overall. They welcome back a quartet of all-conference players on both ends of the field. First Team honoree and two-time all-conference midfielder Aiden Hoenisch returns after leading the team in scoring last year. He ranked third in the NJAC in points (28) and was tied for third in goals (13). Second Team pick Joseph P. Carbone was the second-leading scorer last year with 16 points on six goals and four assists. Reigning NJAC Rookie of the Year Brady Barletta will be in net once again. In his rookie season, he ranked third in the NJAC in goals against average (.919), tied for third in shutouts (7), and fourth in save percentage (.775). All-Conference pick Dawson Joseph will once again be on the back line after starting all 19 games last year and helping Stockton limit opponents to less than a goal per game.
Newcomers to Watch: Brady Devine (D; Bishop McDevitt HS (PA)), Aaron Casterlow (F; Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS), Owen Sugra (M; Rancocas Valley HS)
Head Coach Greg Ruttler: “We have a lot of experience returning with only one starter not returning from 2023 as well as a large number of incoming players that will make an immediate impact.”
KEAN
Kean - under the guidance of first-year head coach Jairo Munoz - looks to contend once again after going 5-1-3 in conference play and finishing third in the NJAC last season. They also have plenty of returning personnel to make a solid run at the title, with all-conference players Donte East and Alejandro Venereo on the offensive attack and all-conference players Dominic Ridge and David Camargo leading the defense. East, a Second Team honoree last year, is the leading returning scorer and ranked tied for eighth in the NJAC in goals (6) and tied for fifth in game-winning goals (3). Venereo led the Cougars with four assists and added one goal. Ridge, the reigning NJAC Goalkeeper of the Year and two-time all-conference selection, led all conference keepers last year in goals against average (.500), save percentage (.897), and shutouts (8). Camargo started all 17 games last year and helped the Cougars limit opponents to an NJAC-best 0.53 goals per game.
Newcomers to Watch: Jamie Madrid (F/M; Middlesex College), Marvin Munoz (M; Bloomfield College)
Head Coach Jairo Munoz: “We have a very hungry and mature group that is eager to come back and build off of Fall 2023.”
RUTGERS-CAMDEN
The Scarlet Raptors are excited for the upcoming season after last year’s very young team qualified for the NJAC Tournament. All-Conference forward Matt Conger along with Jason Angel return for their sophomore seasons. Angel was the team’s leading scorer as a rookie with 14 points on five goals and four assists. Conger started all 19 and chipped in a goal and assist each while providing the intangibles to set up the Raptor offense. All-NJAC First Team defenders Eric Swen and Nick Yurcho return. Swen, a two-time all-conference back and reigning NJAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, logged a team-high 1577 minutes last year and also provided an offensive threat with four goals. Yurcho also started all 19 games on the back line last year to bring a wealth of experience to what should be a very competitive squad this year.
Newcomers to Watch: Dylan Pino (M; Cherokee HS), Okafor Norkeh (D; Haverford HS (PA)), Youssef Montasser (M; Combine Academy)
Head Coach Tim Oswald: “We started our youngest team ever last year and advanced to the NJAC Tournament - often starting 5 or 6 freshmen regularly in matches. We are really excited about the leadership, the returning All-NJAC contributors and the talented youth in the pipeline. It's the deepest team we have had in over a decade.”
RUTGERS-NEWARK
With an extra year of experience in a large group of returning players, Rutgers-Newark aims for another NJAC Tournament spot this season. All-Conference player Erick Cortes returns after leading the Scarlet Raiders in scoring last year. He ranked in the top 10 in the NJAC in goals (6) and points (16). Midfielder/wing Pablo Moreno looks to add to the scoring effort this season after starting 10 of 17 games last year and chipping in two goals and an assist. Bryan Rodriguez, who missed 2023 to injury, returns to the back line this season. Defensive center mid Darius Holmes returns for his sophomore season after gaining experience in 17 games as a rookie last year.
Newcomers to Watch: Ian Brown (F; Burlington Twp. HS), Jorge Ceballos (F; New Brunswick HS), Martin Pulgarin Aguirre (F; St. Benedict’s Prep)
Head Coach Kevin East: “Last year’s team was young and lacked experience which showed in many results. In the spring we saw growth and maturity by the group which we hope will carry over to the fall. If that happens, we should be in contention for a playoff spot in October.”
RAMAPO
Ramapo looks to improve upon last year’s record with eyes on returning to the conference tournament after missing last year. Offensively, Jack Hosmer is the team’s leading returning scorer after recording seven points on two goals and three assists in 15 games last year. Two-time all-conference back Jake Szatkowski returns to man the back line after logging a team-high 1372 minutes last season and starting all 16 contests.
Newcomers to Watch: Ari Rosu (D; West Orange HS), Arthur Rosu (D; West Orange HS), Justin Reid (F; West Orange HS), Gianfranco Ponce (F; Hudson Catholic), Jalal Khalifeh (F; Mahwah HS)
Head Coach DJ Pinton: “We will look to get back to the NJAC Tournament this season.”
NJCU
The Gothic Knights look to move up in the standings this year after finishing .500 overall and just missing the conference tournament by one spot. They welcome back leading returning scorer Jorkaef Fallas, who ranked among the top 10 in the NJAC in assists with five while adding three goals for 11 total points. Emmanuel Atorkui will be called upon into a more consistent scoring role as the striker saw action in 13 games last year and chipped in a goal. Center back Jonathan Cabellero will lead the defensive unit once again after starting all 17 games last year and logging a team-high 1486 minutes and will be joined by experienced back Anthony Salmeron. Salmeron started all but one and also chipped in a goal.
Newcomers to Watch: Christian Palmer (F; Union HS), Hans Zoller (D; Kearny HS)
Head Coach Brendan Guzman: “We return a core group of players who have experience and minutes in the conference. We were looking to add competition and increase the size of the incoming class. We were able to do that. We are looking to build on the momentum of the last two seasons and we believe this group of Gothic Knights can do that.”
WILLIAM PATERSON
The Pioneers look to move up in the NJAC standings this season with a number of experienced players back on the pitch. Diego Navas, an All-NJAC First Team pick last year and two-time all-conference honoree, is back to lead the offensive attack. Navas was tied for third in the NJAC last year in goals (13) and was ranked fifth in points (26). He is joined by center mid Gianfranco Banca, who chipped in two goals and three assists last year. Jimmy Bruno will lead the defensive unit after starting all 18 games last year. He also chipped in two assists. He will be joined by Thomas Rogan, who saw action in 13 games with 11 starts.
Newcomers to Watch: Matthew Escobar (M; Caldwell University)
Head Coach Matt Heitmann: “We are excited about the incoming recruiting class made up of transfers and freshmen, we expect them to make a major impact on elevating the level of the team while providing depth to our roster.”
TCNJ
The Lions welcome interim head coach PJ Ringel following the retirement of long-time coach George Nazario. They look to build upon last year’s work while gelling with a solid group of newcomers, including three transfers. They have their top two scorers back. Chris Meder returns after leading the team last year with 11 points on five goals and once assist, and midfielder Colin Kenville is back after recording nine points on three goals and three assists. Julien Carraha and Sam Snyder look to anchor the back line. Both saw action in all 18 games last year with Carraha starting 12 and Snyder starting 13.
Newcomers to Watch: Dylan Ayar (Monroe Twp., NJ/Denison University), Ernest Uche (Hamilton, NJ/Denison University), Julien DoLorenzo (Bordentown, NJ/Georgian Court University)
Interim Head Coach PJ Ringel: “We have a young but talented group looking to use last year’s experiences to compete and finish matches on top.”