Men's Soccer Picked Second in MASCAC Preseason Poll

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University Bears have been picked to finish second in the 2011 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Men's Soccer standings in a vote of the league's coaches.  The MASCAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll was released today by conference Director of Media Relations, Jim Seavey.

Bridgewater State finished just behind preseason favorite Salem State University in the poll.  The Bears amassed a total of 55 points which included four first place votes while the Vikings garnered 56 points and three first place votes.  Defending MASCAC regular season champion Westfield State is next in third place with 49 points, while Framingham State (which received the other first place vote) and MCLA follow in fourth (44 pts.) and fifth place (30 pts.), respectively. Massachusetts Maritime is next in sixth place with 21 points, while Worcester State and Fitchburg State round out in the poll in seventh (17 pts.) and eighth place (16 pts.), respectively.

Head Coach Brendan Adams begins his tenth season at the helm of the BSU men's soccer team.  The all-time winningest coach in program history, Adams has directed his teams to an overall record of 87-65-15 (.566) including a 41-17-5 (.690) MASCAC regular season mark.  During his tenure Bridgewater State has captured MASCAC regular season titles in 2003 and 2009 and conference tournament championships in 2004 and 2007.

The 2010 Bears posted a record of 13-6 on the season with a 5-2 MASCAC mark.  The 13 victories is highest win total for the men's soccer program since 1994. Seeded second at the conference tournament, Bridgewater dropped a 2-1 decision in double overtime to third seeded and eventual tournament champion Salem State.  BSU would also go to compete in the ECAC Division III New England Tournament as the number one seed.

Coach Adams returns three key figures in the midfield led by senior captain and 2010 All-MASCAC Second Team selection Dan Roberts (Braintree, Mass.) as well as classmate and All-MASCAC First Team member Donald Flores (Cranston, R.I.).  Roberts started all 19 games for the Bears a year ago and recorded four assists, while Flores notched a goal and eight assists in 18 games.  In 56 career games, Flores has amassed 17 assists which ties him for sixth all-time in program history along with former standout Junji Mochizuki.  Also returning to the midfield is junior Tucker Fairbanks (Plympton, Mass.) who tallied two goals and three assists in 2010 while starting all 19 games.

Junior forward and First Team All-MASCAC selection Simao Mendes (Brockton, Mass.) continues to provide the scoring punch for the Bears up front as he posted five goals and five assists a season ago.  Mendes has 13 goals and 12 assists for 38 points over his first two seasons at Bridgewater.  Sophomore Craig Shadduck (Braintree, Mass.) had a terrific freshman campaign posting four goals and six assists for 14 points while playing in all 19 games with 11 starts.  Senior Mike Fraser (Marshfield, Mass.) provides some veteran experience at the forward position.  Fraser notched six goals including three game-winners in 2010 while adding three assists.

The biggest question mark entering the 2011 campaign will be the defensive back line where the Bears lost three seniors to graduation including NSCAA Division III All-New England East Region Second Team selection, Mike White.  Senior goaltender DJ Siewierski (Stow, Mass.) is the Bears' incumbent between the pipes.  Siewierski played in 18 games and made 17 starts in 2010 as he posted a record of 11-6 with 94 saves, a 1.46 goals against average and a .783 save percentage.