EDISON, NJ - The Saint Peter's University men's soccer team has been selected first in the 2020-21 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league office today. Additionally, senior
Dominic Laws has been named the 2020-21 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, while he, along with classmates
Jordan Jowers and
Philip Smith, and junior
Jamie Davis have been named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team.
The Peacocks first-place finish in the preseason poll is the highest ranking for the team during the tenure of head coach
Julian Richens, who is approaching his 10th season with the team after being voted the unanimous 2019 MAAC Men's Soccer Coach of the Year. The team had a historical run in 2019, setting a new program record for conference wins by finishing 9-1 in MAAC play and capturing the MAAC regular season title for just the second time in school history. Saint Peter's finished one point ahead of Quinnipiac in this year's preseason standings, garnering six first-place votes over five for the Bobcats.
"It's good recognition for the program and our talented group of players, based on their achievements from 2019," said Richens. "Everyone associated with our program is just focused on our training right now, getting our fitness levels right, for the first game. Any future recognition will be earned in each and every conference game we play in 2021. Being voted preseason number one is a good confidence boost. We are under no illusions on how hard this spring season will be, but I know every player will be having a real go in each game. The first game can't come soon enough."
Laws played last year like a man on a mission, as the Sunderland, England native paced the league in nearly every major offensive category following the conclusion of the regular season, leading the MAAC in shots (80), shots per game (4), points per game (1.6), and goals (12). Laws' efforts were enough to garner unanimous MAAC Offensive Player of the Year and All-MAAC First Team honors, as he became the first player since 2010 to earn an end of year major accolade from the conference and the first Offensive Player of the Year award recipient since 2007.
Jowers is one of only two returning players to the Preseason All-MAAC Team, following his placement on the 2019 squad. The senior captain had a fantastic 2019 campaign, racking up 20 points on the year with seven goals and six assists, while also notching three game-winners which led to his second straight appearance on the All-MAAC First Team. Additionally, Jowers finished tied for first in assists and third in the league in goals scored during conference play last year. The selection to the Preseason Team is the second of his career after earning the honor last year, and the sixth All-Conference honor of his career, which includes his placement on the MAAC All-Rookie and All-MAAC Second team following his freshman year.
An All-MAAC Second Team member in 2019, Davis enters this season as one of the sharpest midfielders in the league following a breakout performance last year, as the then-sophomore started in 15 of the Peacocks' 19 contests on the year. Davis finished last year with seven assists on the season, which ranked tied first on the team and third in the league. The Cheshire, England native played a pivotal role in Saint Peter's MAAC men's soccer semifinal win over Marist last year, scoring the first goal of the affair in the first 10 minutes, helping the Peacocks to a 3-2 win over the Red Foxes at Jaroschak Field on Nov. 14, 2019.
Smith rounds out the Peacocks' batch of All-Conference honorees, representing the staunch Saint Peter's defense that contributed so heavily to the team's success last year. The senior captain held the line in an impressive Peacocks defense, which ranked among the league's elite in terms of goals against average, as the team finished tied for first in conference play with a 1.09 scoring margin. Smith also had his strongest offensive showing of his Peacocks career last year, recording two assists and a game-winning goal against Monmouth on Oct. 16, 2019. His efforts on the backline earned him All-MAAC Second Team honors concluding 2019.
| 2020-21 Men's Soccer Preseason Poll |
| 1 |
Saint Peter's (6) |
112 |
| 2 |
Quinnipiac (5) |
111 |
| 3 |
Marist |
92 |
| 4 |
Iona |
91 |
| 5 |
Manhattan |
69 |
| T6 |
Fairfield |
67 |
| T6 |
Rider |
67 |
| 8 |
Monmouth |
43 |
| 9 |
Niagara |
33 |
| 10 |
Canisius |
21 |
| 11 |
Siena |
20 |
| Preseason All-MAAC Team |
| Player |
Position |
Institution |
| Tomas Svecula |
Forward |
Quinnipiac |
| Pablo Decastro |
Forward |
Rider |
| Dominic Laws |
Forward |
Saint Peter's |
| Matt McGlinchey |
Midfield |
Fairfield |
| Jamie Davis |
Midfield |
Saint Peter's |
| Jordan Jowers |
Midfield |
Saint Peter's |
| Ignacio Antequera-Sanchez |
Back |
Iona |
| Huib Achterkamp |
Back |
Marist |
| Philip Smith |
Back |
Saint Peter's |
| Samuel Ilin |
Goalkeeper |
Marist |
