Owls Men's Soccer Picked Sixth in Preseason Poll

WESTFIELD, Mass. –   Westfield State men's soccer has been picked to finish sixth in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference in the 2022 season, in the recently released pre-season coaches' poll.

Westfield received 16 points in the poll, and was tied with Fitchburg State for the sixth spot in the eight-team league.   Defending conference champ Salem State led the poll with 49 points and received all seven available first-place votes.   Framingham received one first place votes and finished with 42 points, followed by Bridgewater (388), Worcester (27), MCLA (22), Westfield, Fitchburg and Mass Maritime (14).

The Owls have plenty of reason for optimism as they start the season under first-year hard coach Dr. Christopher Steeter.   Streeter took the reins of the Owls for spring practices earlier this year after the retirement of veteran head coach John Evans.

Streeter, a Westfield State Hall of Famer as a player, inherits a roster mixed with returnees and newcomers.

Sophomore Nick Brown(Southwick, Mass.) is the Owls top returning scorer with four goals and three assists a year ago, and senior forward Jay Jay Evbrokhai (Chicopee, Mass.) netted two goals and an assist despite missing six games due to injury. 

Senior back/midfielder Matt Allen (Southwick, Mass.)  is an effective presence going forward whether on the flank or out of the back. Classmates Zach Matricia(N. Attleboro) and Zach Soucy (Acushnet) round out the Owls returning senior class.

Sophomore midfielder Coleby Andrade (Falmouth, Mass.) helps make the game from the midfield, while in goal, junior Emilio Mancuso (Ludlow, Mass.) made nine starts with a 2.20 GAA and a knack for coming up with athletic saves,

Westfield will be put to an immediate test in opening the season at home on September 1 with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff, but the Owls will be home for their first three contests, as they also host Suffolk on Saturday, September 3, and Western New England on Wednesday, September 7.