BIDDEFORD, Maine – Ushering in a new era for the program, the Suffolk men's soccer program made its first-ever appearance in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) preseason poll on Thursday. The Rams were selected to finish eighth in the conference following a vote by the league's 10 head coaches.
Suffolk collected 32 points to finish ahead of the University of New England (21) and Curry (16).
Two teams evenly split the 10 first-place votes available in Endicott and Salve Regina. The Gulls (95) edged out the reigning CCC Champion Seahawks (93) by just two points.
Seven points separate spots three through five with Gordon taking No. 3 behind 68 points and Wentworth and Western New England sharing fourth with 61 points apiece. Roger Williams (60) and Nichols (43) complete the bottom half of the 10-team poll, and finished ahead of the Rams.
Bill Maddock embarks on his first season of competition at Suffolk 22 months after being hired as head coach of the program in January 2020. The newcomer to Ram Nation rebuilt the Rams' roster in preparation for the inaugural season of CCC play in 2020, however, those plans were sidelined due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
With an exhibition campaign under his belt, Maddock has assembled a squad centered around fresh faces, both true rookies and standout transfers, to mix into a core group of Suffolk veterans.
The new look Rams will be battled tested early on with three games scattered over a five-day span in the first week of action. Suffolk gets going Wednesday, Sept. 1 against Mass. Maritime under the lights at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park.
| 2021 CCC MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL | ||||
| SCHOOL 1. Endicott 2. Salve Regina 3. Gordon T4. Wentworth T4. Western New England 6. Roger Williams 7. Nichols 8. Suffolk 9. University of New England 10. Curry |
POINTS (FPV) 95 (5) 93 (5) 68 61 61 60 43 32 21 16 |
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