BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Navy men's soccer team claimed the top spot in the 2023 Patriot League preseason poll with 134 points and eight first-place votes when it was announced by the League office on Wednesday.
Boston University earned the second spot in the poll with 130 points and three first-place votes, while American tallied five first-place votes and recorded 129 points for third place. Colgate and Loyola Maryland tied for fourth with 107 points, followed by Army West Point with 106 points and four first-place votes. Lafayette tallied 75 points for seventh place, followed by Lehigh (52), Bucknell (37), and Holy Cross (22).
American senior forward Robbie Matei earned preseason offensive player of the year, while Navy senior midfielder David Jackson was named midfielder of the year.
BU senior defender Griffin Roach received the preseason defensive player of the year honors, while teammate senior goalkeeper Francesco Montali earned preseason goalkeeper of the year. Roach and Montali head into this season as the reigning defensive player and the goalkeeper of the year, respectively.
The Terriers and Midshipmen led the way with three student-athletes on the preseason All-League team each. Roach and Montali were joined by teammate graduate student midfielder Colin Innes. Jackson was joined by Navy teammates senior forward Baba Kallie and senior defender Zach Wagner.
Army West Point placed two players, while American, Holy Cross and Lafayette had one apiece. Army's senior midfielder Cooper Warren and senior defender Nick Atkinson, American's Matei, Holy Cross junior forward Evan Jones and Lafayette senior forward Hale Lombard rounded out the 11-member team.
Ten of the 11 preseason all-league members were named to the 2022 Patriot League Men's Soccer first- or second All-Patriot League teams, with six on the first team and four on the second team. Atkinson, Warren, Innes, Jackson, Roach, and Montali were on the 2022 first team, while Matei, Jones, Kallie and Lombard earned second-team honors.
The preseason poll and individual awards were voted on by the men's soccer coaches and sports information directors from each institution, with restrictions on voting for their team and student-athletes.
2023 Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Robbie Matei, American, Sr., F, Prairie Grove, Ill./Prairie Ridge
* Matei recorded four goals and two assists last season to help lead the Eagles to the Patriot League Men's Soccer Championship Game.
* The senior earned second-team All-Patriot League honors in 2022.
2023 Patriot League Preseason Midfielder of the Year
David Jackson, Navy, Sr., M, Cypress, Texas/iSchool High
* Jackson, the 2022 Patriot League Men's Soccer Midfielder of the Year, led the team in goals (6), game-winning goals (3), and points (15) to go with three assists this season.
* In 2022, the senior went 4-for-4 on penalty-kick attempts to become one of 15 players in the nation to score four-or-more PK goals in a single season.
* In 42 career games, Jackson has recorded 13 goals and 12 assists for 38 points.
* Jackson was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region Second Team, the All-ECAC First Team and the All-League First Team last season.
2023 Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Griffin Roach, Boston University, Sr., D, Canton, Mass./Canton
* Roach aided a defensive unit that held opponents to 0.82 goals per game to go with nine shutouts on the year.
* The senior set a League record by earning three consecutive defensive player of the week honors.
* In 2022, Roach earned BU's first Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year laurel since 2015.
2023 Patriot League Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Francesco Montali, Boston University, Sr., GK, Davie, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas
* In 16 games in goal last season, Montali ranked fourth nationally with a .839 save percentage, seventh in goals against average (.620) and 10th with eight solo shutouts.
* In 29 career appearances, the senior owns a 10-10-9 record, 107 saves and 11 shutouts, along with a .770 save percentage and a 1.08 goals-against average.
* In 2022, Montali earned BU's first Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year laurel since 2015.
2023 Patriot League Men's Soccer Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Robbie Matei, American, Sr., F
2023 Patriot League Men's Soccer Preseason Midfielder of the Year: David Jackson, Navy, Sr., M
2023 Patriot League Men's Soccer Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Griffin Roach, Boston University, Sr., D
2023 Patriot League Men's Soccer Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year: Francesco Montali, Boston University, Sr., GK
2023 Patriot League Men's Soccer Preseason All-League Team
Robbie Matei, American, Sr., F
Evan Jones, Holy Cross, Jr., F
Hale Lombard, Lafayette, Sr., F
Baba Kallie, Navy, Sr., F
Cooper Warren, Army West Point, Sr., M
Colin Innes, Boston University, Gr., M
David Jackson, Navy, Sr., M
Nick Atkinson, Army West Point, Sr., D
Griffin Roach, Boston University, Sr., D
Zach Wagner, Navy, Sr., D
Francesco Montali, Boston University, Sr., GK
2023 Patriot League Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
Navy – 134 (8 first-place votes)
Boston University – 130 (3)
American – 129 (5)
Colgate – 107
Loyola Maryland – 107
Army West Point – 106 (4)
Lafayette – 75
Lehigh– 52
Bucknell – 37
Holy Cross – 22
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League's athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.