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Thursday, Sept. 4 – 3 p.m. #24 Post vs. Franklin Pierce LaMoy Field – Waterbury, Conn. Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video

 
WATERBURY, Conn. – The #24 Post University men's soccer team opens its season on Thursday, Sept. 4 against Northeast-10 (NE-10) foe, Franklin Pierce. The Eagles have not played their regular-season opener at LaMoy Field since 2003.
 
2013 Season Recap
Post enters 2014 with high expectations after coming off its best season in school history with a 15-32 record overall and 11-1-0 in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC). The Eagles won the conference regular-season title for the third straight year and also earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season, but fell to Wilmington 2-1 in double-overtime. Post closed out the season ranked #24 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Poll. The Eagles were in the poll for nine weeks and were ranked as high as fifth.
 
Scouting the Ravens
Franklin Pierce is coming off an 8-8-2 record in 2013 and was selected fifth in the NE-10 Preseason Coaches' Poll. All-Northeast-10 Third Teamers Dallas Donovan and Bent Johnansen return for the Ravens. Donovan is the team's leading returning scorer with four goals and nine points a year ago.
 
All-Time Series vs. Franklin Pierce
Post and Franklin Pierce have only played twice in the past, with each team taking one game. Last season, the Eagles defeated the Ravens 1-0 on a goal by Raphael Moura (Danbury, Conn.) in the 14^th minute. Franklin Pierce has never visited LaMoy Field.
Results
9/11/13…………….A..……..W, 1-0
8/26/07…………….N…..…. L, 5-0
 
Eagles in Season Openers
Since the program transitioned to Division II in 2002, the Eagles are 3-8-1 in season-openers. Last season, the Post defeated #7 Southern New Hampshire 1-0 to start the year. The Eagles 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.
 
Home Sweet Home
Since LaMoy Field reopened midway through the 2011 season, the Eagles have been stellar at home. In 23 matches on the turf, Post has amassed a 19-1-3 record and has won seven straight. Since the first game there on Oct. 13, 2011, the Eagles outscored their opponents 57-13 at home.
 
Bringing Home the Hardware
The Eagles had eight players named to the All-CACC team in 2013, led by two-time player of the year Joe Baccielo. Jean Louis Cadet, Kevin Ipina, Ani Lekaj, and Andre Lindsay were also named to the first team. Raphael Moura, Francisco Sastre, and Krzysztof Giezek all made the second team. Ted Haley was named CACC Coach of the Year for the third-consecutive season and the NSCAA East Region Coach of the Year. Moura also received the Top XIV Award for having the highest GPA of the four teams at the championship site.
 
Preseason Prognostications
The Post men's soccer team was tabbed to finish first in the CACC in the Preseason Poll for the third consecutive year. The Eagles received five first-place votes and 153 points as voted on by the league's 13 head coaches.
 
On The Horizon
The Eagles are back in action on Wednesday, Sept. 10 on the road at #1 Southern New Hampshire at 7 p.m.