Senior goalkeeper Adam Colella has recorded four shutouts over the past two seasons and seven in his career. |
Skyhawks set to open 2014 season next Friday against Assumption in the Catholic Cup
Northeast-10 Preseason Poll Announcement
EASTON, Mass. (August 27, 2014) – Stonehill College has been picked to finish 11th in the Northeast-10 Conference men's soccer preseason poll, as selected by the league's 14 head coaches, the Conference office announced today.
Stonehill received 48 points, 11 more than 12th-place University of New Haven, and 12 fewer than tenth-place Saint Michael's College. Last year's NCAA Division II champion, Southern New Hampshire University, is favored to capture its third consecutive conference title after receiving 168 total points and 12 of the 14 first-place tallies. Merrimack College was picked to finish second by the league's head coaches with 146 points, while Adelphi University received 143 points, including the two remaining first-place nods. Southern Connecticut State University (141 points) and Franklin Pierce University (129 points) rounded out the top-five of the poll.
Stonehill returns 18 letter winners, including eight starters, from last year's squad. Senior goalkeeper Adam Colella (Wilmington, Massachusetts/St. John's Prep) posted consecutive shutouts last September, and he earned the first NE-10 Goalkeeper of the Week award of his career for his efforts. The Skyhawks will be experienced on the defensive end, as juniors Anthony Cavazza (New Windsor, New York/Cornwall Central) and Evan Devanny (Concord, New Hampshire/Concord) and sophomore Patrick Keogh (Garden City, New York/Garden City) are all back after starting every match last fall. Junior forward Drew Montano (Avon, Connecticut/Avon) is the team's top returning offensive threat, with a team-best six goals over the past two seasons, while senior forward Ben Zandonella (South Windsor, Connecticut/South Windsor) has five scores over the same time frame.
Stonehill finished the 2013 campaign at 5-10-1, including 4-8-1 in conference play. The Skyhawks won their first two NE-10 matches of the season and three of their first five contests overall, but ended up 11th in the league standings. Keogh was recognized by the conference at the end of the season with his selection to the NE-10 All-Rookie Team.
Stonehill is set to open the 2014 season next Friday, September 5th, with a 4 p.m. contest against Assumption College as part of the Catholic Cup, hosted by Saint Michael's College. The Skyhawks will then open their home slate the following Friday, September 12th, when they host Roberts Wesleyan College, before kicking off NE-10 play at home on September 16th against Saint Anselm College.
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