CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
BUFFALO – Canisius College junior midfielder Melvin Blair was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team and Canisius was picked to finished sixth as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference held its Soccer Preseason Awards Show Tuesday on MAAC.tv.
The Preseason All-MAAC Teams and the preseason poll were voted on the league’s 11 head coaches.
A native of Frome, Jamaica, Blair ranked second on the Canisius roster last season with eight points on two goals and four assists. He scored the game-winning goal in Canisius’ 2-1 win over Monmouth, and his 2.65 shots per game ranked 10th best in the MAAC.
An NSCAA All Northeast Region Second Team and All-MAAC First Team selection, Blair became the first Canisius midfielder to earn All-MAAC First-Team accolades since former Griff Gavin Falconer was recognized by the league’s coaches in 2012.
Quinnipiac was picked to repeat as regular season champions while 2016 MAAC champion Rider was tabbed second. Monmonth (95) was slotted third, followed by Siena (88), Fairfield (63) and Canisius (61). Marist (60), Iona (48), Manhattan (39), Niagara (29) and Saint Peter’s (20) completed the poll.
Canisius kicks off the 2017 season Aug. 25 at Stony Brook. The Griffs’ home opener is slated for Aug. 31 against Robert Morris.
The 2017 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship has a new format in 2017, beginning on Sunday, Nov. 5, with the third and fourth seeded teams hosting the fifth and sixth seeded teams. The semifinals take place on Thursday, Nov. 9, at the site of the first and second seeded teams. The 2017 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship Game is held at the highest remaining seed on Sunday, Nov. 12.
Coaches Poll:
1. Quinnipiac – 113 (7)
2. Rider – 110 (3)
3. Monmouth – 95
4. Siena – 88 (1)
5. Fairfield – 63
6. Canisius – 61
7. Marist – 60
8. Iona – 48
9. Manhattan – 39
10. Niagara – 29
11. Saint Peter’s – 20
Preseason All-MAAC Team (listed alphabetically, by school):
Forward:
Eamon Whelan, Quinnipiac
Jose Aguinaga, Rider
Clement Bourrett, Rider
Elliot Otmani, Rider
Midfield:
Melvin Blair, Canisius
Simon Lund Jorgensen, Marist
Colin Stripling, Monmouth
James Doig, Quinnpiac
Back:
Angus Hastings, Fairfield
Jeppe Haehre, Quinnipiac
Connor McCoy, Quinnipiac
Milorad Sobot, Siena
Goalkeeper:
Chrysostomos Iakovidis, Quinnipiac
Preseason POY:
Jose Aguinaga, Rider
