PITMAN--After capturing their fourth consecutive NJAC Championship in 2009 en route to a 17-2-2 overall record, Montclair State University was selected as the 2010 preseason men’s soccer favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Red Hawks, who also claimed the 2009 NJAC regular season championships via a league-best 7-1-1 NJAC record, will be seeking their 11th conference title since 1961. 

Montclair State, which advanced to the second round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament after earning a first round bye, was selected to finish first on six-of-the-ten ballots cast by the league head coaches. Under the direction of 2009 NJAC Coach of the Year Brian Sentowski, the Red Hawks have produced a 129-28-14 overall record in 11 seasons. MSU returns a pair of all-conference senior midfielders from its NJAC Championship squad in Mike Krol and Coron Short.

 

Rutgers-Newark, which earned the top seed in the 2009 ECAC Metro Tournament, was selected to place second and received one first place vote. The Scarlet Raiders posted a 13-6-4 overall record in 2009 and earned a fourth place conference finish with a 4-3-2 league mark. Fourth-year head coach Kevin East has guided Rutgers-Newark to an overall mark of 32-25-7, improving his career coaching record to 155-91-18. East’s squad returns a trio of 2009 all-conference performers in senior midfielder Estiven Benitez, sophomore forward Jervis Witherspoon, and junior midfielder Ronald Quiroz. 

 

Richard Stockton College, which advanced to the semifinals of the 2009 ECAC Metro Tournament, was selected to place third and received one first place vote. The Ospreys placed fifth in the 2009 NJAC regular season race with a 4-4-1 league mark en route to an overall record of 12-9-1. Under the leadership of 13th-year head coach Jeff Haines, the Ospreys have notched an overall mark of 196-67-18. Stockton returns four all-conference players from its 2009 side including senior midfielder Sean Nelson, junior back Brennen Fitzsimmons, junior back Sal Pistone, and the reigning NJAC Offensive Player of the Year, senior forward Rafael Duarte.

Rowan University was selected to place fourth and received two first place votes. The 2009 Profs advanced to the NJAC Tournament Championship Match after placing third in the conference regular season race with a 5-2-2 conference record. Now in his 35th season at the helm of the Rowan program, head coach Dan Gilmore has guided the Profs to a 522-149-51 overall record, including a mark of 13-6-2 in 2009. Rowan returns a trio of all-conference players from its NJAC runner-up squad including sophomore forward Julian Berrios, senior back Randy Kohr, and the reigning NJAC Goalkeeper of the Year,  senior net-minder Charlie Cunliffe. 

 

Rutgers University-Camden, led by fifth-year head coach Tim Oswald, was selected to finish fifth. The Scarlet Raptors have produced a 50-25-14 overall record under Oswald’s leadership, including a mark of 8-9-3 in 2009. Rutgers-Camden returns three all-league performers from its 2009 squad including senior midfielder Shane McGrory, senior forward Rhyan Nelson, and senior back Stan Reahm.

 

William Paterson University, which posted an 8-5-6 overall record including five conference draws in 2009, was selected to place sixth. Under 19th-year head coach Brian Woods, the Pioneers have produced a 136-164-27 overall mark. William Paterson returns a league-high five all-conference players from its 2009 squad including senior midfielder Julian Valerio, senior back Matthew Heitmann, junior midfielder Anthony Ferrer, senior back Chris Belan, and the 2009 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, senior back Joe Strawman.

 

The College of New Jersey, which placed second in the 2009 NJAC regular season race with a 5-2-2 league mark, was selected to place seventh. Lions’ head coach George Nazario had guided TCNJ to a 159-103-29 overall record in 15 seasons, including a mark of 7-6-4 in 2009.

 

Ramapo College, under the leadership of seventh-year head coach DJ Pinton, was selected to place eighth and also was tapped by the coaches as the league’s dark horse selection. The Roadrunners have produced a 65-37-11 overall record under Pinton, including a mark of 10-5-2 in 2009. Ramapo returns a trio of all-conference players from its 2009 squad including senior back Zach Theinert, senior back Jim Clementi, and the 2009 NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore forward Rob Santaniello.

Kean University, under the leadership of 35th-year head coach Tony Ochrimenko, was selected to place ninth. The Cougars have produced a 430-209-49 overall record under Ochrimenko, including a mark of 7-8-4 in 2009. Kean returns one all-league performer from its 2009 squad in sophomore forward Abner Denis. 

New Jersey City University, led by second-year head coach Nansha Kalonji, was selected to place 10th. Kalonji guided the Gothic Knights to a 7-9-2 overall record in his rookie season in Jersey City. NJCU returns one all-conference player from 2009 in junior forward Walter Avans. 

 

The 52nd season of NJAC men’s soccer will kickoff on Wednesday, September 1 with all 10 teams in non-conference action. Conference play will begin on Thursday, September 16 when Rowan travels to face Montclair State in a rematch of the 2009 NJAC Championship Match. The top six regular season finishers will advance to the NJAC Championship Tournament which will begin with first round action on Saturday, October 30. The NJAC Tournament semifinals will be conducted on Tuesday, November 2, and the 2010 NJAC Championship Match will be played at the site of the highest remaining seed on Friday, November 5. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.

 

 

2010 NJAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
1.	Montclair State (6)
2.	Rutgers-Newark (1)
3.	Richard Stockton (1)
4.	Rowan (2)
5.	Rutgers-Camden
6.	William Paterson
7.	The College of New Jersey
8.	Ramapo (dark horse)
9.	Kean
10.	New Jersey City
First Place Votes In Parentheses