Complete Schedule | USC National Poll | NJAC Preseason Poll

PITMAN, N.J. (August 15, 2017) – The nationally-ranked No. 8 Rutgers University-Newark men's soccer team was picked second in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, it was announced Tuesday morning by the league office.
 
Rutgers-Newark received two first-place votes and is one spot back of preseason favorite Rowan University. The Profs received seven first-place votes, while Montclair State University – the coaches pick to finish third – received one.
 
Following Rowan, Rutgers-Newark and Montclair are Rutgers University-Camden, Stockton University and The College of New Jersey. TCNJ was tabbed the NJAC's 'dark horse', and Kean University, Ramapo College, William Paterson University and New Jersey City University rounded things out.
 
The NJAC is one of the toughest conferences in the nation, and in 2016 sent an exceptional four teams to the NCAA Tournament – Rowan, Montclair, Kean and Rutgers-Newark.
 
The Scarlet Raiders – who had the 2016 NJAC Rookie of the Year, 2016 Coach of the Year and seven all-conference performers – won the conference's regular-season crown a year ago, going 8-1-0 in league play. Rutgers-Newark totaled a program-record 21 triumphs en route to a 21-4-0 record and an appearance in the 'Elite Eight' of the NCAA Tournament.
 
Head Coach Kevin East – who has 141 victories as the R-N coach – returns six of the team's seven all-conference selections, three of four All-Region performers and now-sophomore All-American Fabio De Sousa.
 
The Scarlet Raiders begin preseason on August 19 and will play exhibition matches against Drew University and Messiah College before traveling to upstate-New York for the Doug May Classic hosted by Nazareth College.
 
The team opens its home slate against CCNY on September 6 and will host the annual Brick City Classic on September 9 & 10 on Alumni Field
 
Rival Rutgers-Camden will kick-off NJAC play on September 16 in Newark.
 
Fans should follow @ScarletRaiders and @RUN_Soc on twitter for the latest on Rutgers-Newark men's soccer.