Complete Top 25 PollMillersville, Pa. - Expectations remain consistent for the Millersville men's soccer team. With a new home at Pucillo Field and 20 newcomers coming to camp, the Marauders may have a new look in 2014 but four NCAA Tournament appearances in the last six seasons carries weight among the NSCAA Preseason Poll voters.
Steve Widdowson's club was voted No. 20 in Division II.
Millersville opens the 2014 season with same ranking it closed the 2013 season. The 13-6-2 record pushed the Marauders into the NCAA Atlantic Region title game where it fell to Mercyhurst, which is ranked No. 6 in the preseason poll. The Marauders and Lakers are the lone Atlantic Region teams in the ranking. They rematch on Oct. 4 at Pucillo Field. Defending NCAA Champion Southern New Hampshire landed the top spot in the ranking.
The Marauders lost all-region goalkeeper
Brad Benzing, four-time all-region selection
Andrew Dukes, four-year starter
Colby Zeger and forward
Ryan Rohrer. But All-America forward
Jaime Vazquez, who totaled nine goals and four assists in 2013, returns to lead the offense. One of the nation's leading assist men
Ben Johnston (14 in 2013) gives the Marauders a potent front line. Midfielder
Christopher Sosa is coming off a rookie season in which he started 15 games.
The back line figures to be rock-solid with four seniors in
Anthony Fratini,
Clark Habecker,
Jordan Brubaker and
Austin Hoke. The quartet is ultra-experienced, having combined for 166 starts. Fratini was named All-PSAC First Team, Daktronics All-Atlantic Region Second Team.
Millersville's season opens at home on Sept. 5 with the unveiling of the brand new Pucillo Field. The Marauders play Pfeiffer, which is coached by Widdowson's former Rutgers coach, Bob Reasso. Widdowson and Reasso were at Rutgers 20 years ago when that program unveiled Yurcak Field. An alumni gathering and student promotions are set for the game. More information will be released soon.
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