Thursday, Sept. 5 – 7 p.m. Post at No. 7 Southern New Hampshire Dr. George J. Larkin Field – Manchester, N.H. Coverage: Live Stats | Video

 
WATERBURY, Conn. – Coming off a season that culminated in its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, the Post University men's soccer team has high hopes once again in 2013. The Eagles return four of their top five scorers from a year ago and were once again selected first in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Preseason Poll.
 
Season Recap
Post won its second-consecutive CACC Regular Season Title and advanced to the conference championship game for the second straight year in 2012. The Eagles amassed the second-most wins in school history with a 13-4-5 record including an 8-0-3 conference record and a 7-0-2 slate at LaMoy Field. Post received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in team history, but fell to UMass-Lowell, 3-1. The Eagles finished the season ranked 24^th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire Poll and received numerous postseason awards.
 
Bringing Home the Hardware
The Eagles won a record number of awards in 2012. Senior Joe Baccielo (Stratford, Conn.) received eight regional and national honors including, CACC Player of the Year, NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division II Third Team All-American, and Capital One Second Team Academic All-American. Senior Kevin Ipina (Danbury, Conn.) was named NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division II Honorable Mention All-American. Sophomore Raphael Moura (Danbury, Conn.) received CACC Rookie of the Year and head coach Ted Haley was honored as conference coach of the year. Additionally, the team received the NSCAA Team Academic Award and placed three on the CACC All-Academic Team.
 
The Streak Continues
Post comes into the season riding a 21-match home unbeaten streak that dates back to 2010. The Eagles are 17-0-4, have outscored opponents 48-11 and posted seven shutouts over the stretch. Post's last home defeat came on Sept. 18, 2010 at the hands of Wilmington, 1-0. Post is also unbeaten in 11 consecutive conference regular season matches.
 
Approaching the Record Books
Senior Joe Baccielo is within striking distance of several career records. He sits at 22 goals, 10 behind Eurica Trowers' record of 32. Baccielo is also six back of Johan Pineda with 12 career assists and 13 behind Maurice Johnson with 56 points. Senior Kevin Ipina sits at 10 career assists, eight back of the record.
 
Tough Slate Ahead
The Eagles will play a 16-match schedule that features matchups with five of the top eight teams in the East Region in 2012 and three NCAA Tournament participants. Post opens the season on the road against Southern New Hampshire on Sept. 5. On Sept. 25, Post plays Dominican on the road in a rematch of the 2012 CACC Championship game.  LIU-Post makes its first-ever appearance at LaMoy Field on Oct. 23. The Pioneers were ranked No. 1 in the NSCAA Poll after beginning the 2012 season 12-0-0.
 
Preseason Prognostications
The Post men's soccer team was tabbed to finish first in the CACC in the Preseason Poll released on Aug. 20. The Eagles received seven first-place votes and 157 points as voted on by the league's 13 head coaches. Post is also ranked 33^rd in the nation according to BennettRank. The Eagles are third in the East Region behind LIU-Post (4) and Southern New Hampshire (11), both of whom Post plays this season.
 
Post In Season Openers
Since the program transitioned to Division II in 2002, the Eagles are 2-8-1 in season-openers. Last season, Post fell to Merrimack 3-0 to open the season, while it posted a 2-1 overtime win at New Haven in 2008 and a 3-2 victory over Saint Michael's in 2005. The triumph over Saint Michael's came in head coach Ted Haley's Post debut.
 
Scouting the Penmen
Southern New Hampshire comes into the season ranked seventh in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Division II Poll. The Penmen are coming off a 19-4 season in which they won the Northeast-10 (NE-10) Championship and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last four years. Southern New Hampshire returns its second-leading goal scorer in Mohamed Toufik who finished 2012 with nine goals and a pair of assists.
 
All-Time Series
Post has never defeated Southern New Hampshire in two previous matchups. Last season the Eagles took an early 1-0 lead at the No. 15 Penman on a goal by Raphael Moura before falling 4-1.
Results
9/29/12…….......A…...……L, 4-1
10/5/11…...........A…...........L, 4-0
 
On The Horizon
After the tilt with Southern New Hampshire, the Eagles head back up north for a match against Franklin Pierce on Wednesday, Sept 11 at 7 p.m.