Posted: Aug 28, 2015

Men's Soccer Picked Second in NECC Preseason Poll

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

ATTLEBORO, Mass. - The Elms College men's soccer squad claimed the second-place spot in the 2015 New England Collegiate Conference Men's Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, released by the conference Thursday. The Blazers received 68 totals points, including two first-place votes.

The 2015 edition of the Elms College men's soccer squad will feature 10 returning players, including reigning NECC Player of the Year senior Connor O'Grady (Somers, Mass.), who led the Blazers in points (23), goals (8), and assists (7). Joining O'Grady will be NECC First Team selection senior Lorenzo Rolocut (Somers, Conn.), NECC Second Team selection senior Safa Saady (Chicopee, Mass.), and sophomore C.J. Dabkowski (Bristol, Conn.). who garnered NECC Honorable Mention status as a freshman. Ben Masse, a former standout for Elms men's soccer, enters his first season as head coach of the Blazers. The Blazers fell to Daniel Webster, 2-1, in the NECC Championship game last season.

Daniel Webster was selected to defend their title for the New England Collegiate Conference Men's Soccer Championship. The Eagles gathered six of the nine possible first place votes and 76 points overall. Experience is on the side of fifth year head coach Matt Correia as he returns eight of his starters. The starters are led by Sean Hamilton, the Goalkeeper of the year for the 2014 season.

Claiming third in the polls is Lesley University with 61 points. The Lynx are followed closely by the fourth slotted Regis College with 55 points. Newbury College ranked fifth and received the final first place vote, which was good for 47 points.

Mitchell College and Southern Vermont College finished in sixth and seventh respectively with 41 and 27 points.

The Blazers will open the 2015 campaign against Rhode Island College on Saturday, September 5^th at the Ramapo College 2015 President's Cup in Mahwah, New Jersey.

2015 NECC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll