Men's Soccer Tabbed Sixth in Preseason NEC Coaches Poll
Central Connecticut was picked sixth in the league's preseason poll. The top six teams in the regular season standings will qualify for the NEC Tournament.
Central Connecticut men's soccer was tabbed sixth in the Northeast Conference's preseason coaches poll announced on Wednesday. The Blue Devils open the 2022 season at home against Hartfrd on Thursday, Aug. 25.
Head coach David Kelly will begin his third campaign at the helm of the Blue Devils' program. In his first two seasons, Kelly has guided Central to as many wins as it had in the previous four campaigns combined. In a COVID-shortened schedule in the spring of 2021, he led Central to its first .500 season since 2013. Senior Sean Gannon returns after leading the Blue Devils in scoring despite missing five games. Sophomores Erik Hjertsson and Jakob Welle-Smogeli also return after scoring three goals apiece. Sophomores Ivan Farias-Martinez and Johnny Morell both return to help anchor the CCSU backline, having each started 21 career games.
LIU was selected as the unanimous favorite in the pol and was followed by St. Francis Brooklyn, FDU and Merrimack to round out the top four.
The top six teams in the regular season standings will qualify for the NEC Tournament. The semifinals and championship will be hosted at the site of the highest seed on Nov. 10 and 13.
