Nighthawks Tabbed 8th in Pre-Season Coaches Poll

Last season, the Newbury College men's soccer team earned their second trip to the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) semifinals after upsetting third seeded Becker College in the quarterfinals. This season the Nighthawks tied the Elms College Blazers, receiving 29 votes in the 2011 pre-season coaches poll voted on by all nine NECC head coaches.

The defending champion Daniel Webster College Eagles (12-6-1, 5-2 NECC), who knocked the Nighthawks out of the post-season in 2010, were picked to finish second after receiving 73 votes two behind 2011 favorite Lesley University. With a total of 75 votes, the Lynx received five first place votes and were the regular season champions finishing last year wit ha 6-1 NECC  record. Their lone loss came against Newbury on the final day of the regular season where goalkeeper William McNally (Grafton, Mass.) was stoic in goal for the Nighthawks registering seven saves in a 1-0 victory.

The Nighthawks return to the pitch this fall bringing back two All-Conference selections. Midfielder and 2010 All-NECC First Team selection Shaundize Moosavizadeh (Winchester, Mass.) enters his junior year one point and two goals shy of second place in Newbury's all-time record book while McNally (2010 All-NECC Second Team) returns for his senior season. The Grafton, Mass. goalkeeper topped his season-high saves in 2010 with 163 saves and is now the Nighthawks all-time leader in career saves with 436 saves.

2011 NECC Men's Soccer Coaches Poll

1. Lesley - 75 (5)

2. Daniel Webster - 73 (3)

3. Southern Vermont - 57

4. Becker - 54

5. Mitchell - 42

6. Regis - 36

7. Elms - 29 (1)

8. Newbury - 29

9. Wheelock - 10