Men’s Soccer Selected Fifth for Third Straight Season in CCC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
CCC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (August 22, 2022) – For the third straight season, the Western New England University men's soccer team has been selected to finish fifth in the CCC preseason coaches' poll. The Golden Bears finished the 2021 season with an 8-6-4 record.
The Golden Bears return many key players including their leading goal scorer and points leader, sophomore Mike Milazzo (Old Lyme, Conn.). Milazzo scored 10 goals for the Golden Bears last season and helped the team by collecting 23 total points during the season. Malik Serriser (Ludlow, Mass.) also returns for the Golden Bears. The junior midfielder was the fourth most points getter last season, appearing in all 18 games, starting 10 of them. Sophomore Colin Waltsak (East Longmeadow, Mass.) returns to the net for the Golden Bears. He was 2-0 for the team last year and is expected to see a jump in playing time.
Western New England earned 47 points in the 2022 poll; one point higher than sixth placed Suffolk University. Endicott led with poll with 90 points, putting the Gulls in first place, who also earned four first place votes. Gordon College also earned four first place votes, coming away with 88 points, good for second place. Roger Williams University and Salve Regina University both earned one first place vote each, with the Hawks collecting 81 points and the Seahawks coming away with 79. Wentworth (44), Curry (35), Nichols (29), and University of New England (11) rounded out the 2022 coaches' poll.
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Team |
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Points (First Place Votes) |
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1. Endicott |
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90 (4) |
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2. Gordon |
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88 (4) |
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3. Roger Williams |
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81 (1) |
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4. Salve Regina |
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79 (1) |
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5. Western New England |
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47 |
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6. Suffolk |
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46 |
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7. Wentworth |
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44 |
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8. Curry |
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35 |
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9. Nichols |
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29 |
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10. University of New England |
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11 |
The Golden Bears will begin their 2022 campaign on Thursday, September 1 at 4:00pm, as they open at home against Brandeis University. Western New England will then travel to Clark University for their first weekend game of the year at 2:00pm on Saturday, September 3. WNE will have a quick turnaround as they will then return home for a matchup on September 4 against Elms College. Visits to Suprenant Field from Westfield State University and Keene State College, and a trip to Babson College will follow before opening up CCC play at Curry on September 17 at 2:00 pm.
