CACC Coaches Forecast Tight Finish In Men's Soccer Preseason Poll

CACC Men's Soccer

8/19/2010 4:03:58 PM

New Haven, CT – (8/19/2010) – By the estimation of the 12 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) men’s soccer coaches the league is in for another season of highly competitive play. Wilmington University took the top spot in the 2010 CACC Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll with five, first-place votes and 133 total points; five other schools received at least one, first-place vote. Chestnut Hill College placed 11^th in the predicted standings, garnering 32 points.

An undefeated conference season in 2009 and a visit to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II East Region Tournament earned Wilmington University the number one spot in this year’s preseason poll. The Wildcats finished 19-3-1 overall and 11-0 in the conference before losing a 1-0, double-overtime contest to New Hampshire University in the second round. Wilmington University is also currently ranked 15^th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NCCAA) Preseason Poll as they return 15 student-athletes including a pair of All-Americans; senior defenseman Jamal Wiggins (St. Thomas, Trinidad) and junior midfielder Nickalus McDonald (Philadelphia, PA). Also returning is all-region, senior goalkeeper Duhan Malai (Galloway, N.J.) who led the CACC in goals-against-average (0.75) last year.

The remaining first-place votes we divided among five institutions. Dominican College placed second with two, first-place votes and 124 points. They also made an NCAA East Regional appearance last season after finishing 13-4-2 overall and 8-2-1 in the CACC. Holy Family University placed third in the poll with one, first-place vote and 102 points. Close behind was Post University and Bloomfield College. The Eagles received one, first-place vote and 101 points while the Deacons totaled 100 points despite collecting two, first-place votes. The reining CACC Tournament Champion, Nyack College, placed seventh in the poll with one, first-place vote and 88 points. The Warriors defeated Dominican College, Post University, and Bloomfield College by 1-0 finals to win the conference tournament as a #7 seed.

Chestnut Hill College totaled 32 points and ranked 11^th in the poll. The Griffins will look to prove the league’s coaches wrong as they return 13 student-athletes to a squad that finished 3-12-2 overall and 1-8-2 in the CACC. Senior defenseman Maurice Blanton (Bristol, PA) led the Griffins in points with four goals and an assist (nine points.). Captains; senior defenseman Kyle Thornley (East Windsor, N.J.), senior midfielder Julian Fernandez (Galloway, N.J.) and junior midfielder Gavin Reid (Dundee, Scotland), are expected to led the group and help groom a host of talented newcomers as the men’s soccer team opens their season on Saturday, September 4, when they challenge West Virginia – Wesleyan College in a 2:00 p.m. contest at the University of Pittsburgh – Johnstown Kickoff Classic.

CACC Men’s Soccer

2010 Preseason Poll

School 2009 Records Points

1. Wilmington (5) 19-3-1/11-0 (CACC) 133

2. Dominican (2) 13-4-2/8-2-1 124

3. Holy Family (1) 11-6-1/7-3-1 102

4. Post (1) 8-9-2/6-4-1 101

5. Bloomfield (2) 8-11-2/6-4-1 100

6. Philadelphia 11-7/7-4 95

7. Nyack (1) 10-11-1/5-5-1 88

8. Caldwell 3-12-1/3-8 60

9. Goldey-Beacom 6-12/4-7 41

10. Felician 4-13-1/1-9-1 33

11. Chestnut Hill 3-12-2/1-8-2 32

12. Concordia 3-15/3-8 27

()-First Place Votes

10.28.11

Men's Soccer

Chestnut Hill

University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

(OT) Recap Box

10.25.11

Men's Soccer

Chestnut Hill

Philadelphia University*

Recap Box

10.23.11

Men's Soccer

Chestnut Hill

Concordia College - New York*

Recap Box

10.22.11

Men's Soccer

Chestnut Hill

Dominican College*

Recap Box

10.18.11

Men's Soccer

Chestnut Hill

Holy Family University*

Recap Box

10.11.11

Men's Soccer

Chestnut Hill

Bloomsburg University

Recap Box

10.08.11

Men's Soccer

Chestnut Hill

Felician College*

Recap Box

Athletes of the Week

Mark DiRugeris Jr.

Men's Basketball

DiRugeris Earns Second CACC Honorable Mention

New Haven, CT – (1/30/2012) – Including a career performance at Felician College on Saturday, January 28, Chestnut Hill College junior guard Mark DiRugeris Jr. (Woodbury, NJ) averaged 21.5 points-per-game (PPG) while leading the Griffins to two Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) wins last week. For his efforts, DiRugeris was recognized with his second honorable mention for the CACC Player of the Week award.

After providing eight points, a rebound, and an assist in a 72-57 win over Dominican College on January 24, DiRugeris offered a career night in a 15-point triumph, 78-63, at Felician College on January 28. He hit all four of his first-half three-point attempts (4-of-4, 100.0%) to total 18 points in the opening period and carry Chestnut Hill College (12-6, 7-2) to a 15-point halftime advantage. DiRugeris kept the pedal down in the second half, depositing another 17 points and leading the Griffins to victory over Felician College with 35 points, four rebounds, and two assists. For the week, he was 11-of-21 (.524) from the floor, 6-of-8 (.750) from three-point range, and 15-of-16 (.938) from the throw line.

This year, DiRugeris is leading the Griffins in scoring (15.9 PPG), while also contributing 3.2 rebounds-per-game (RPG), 34 assists, four blocks, and 26 steals. He is carrying a .468 (102-of-218) field goal percentage, a .494 (40-of-81) three-point percentage, and a .891 (90-of-101) free throw percentage. DiRugeris earned his first CACC weekly honorable mention for his efforts during the week ending December 11, 2011; 22.0 PPG and 4.7 RPG while totaling 10 assists and six steals in conference wins over Holy Family University (12/6), Wilmington University (12/8), and Caldwell College (12/10).

Alssene Saintilus

Men's Basketball

Saintilus Serves as Honorable Mention

For CACC Rookie of the Week

New Haven, CT – (1/23/2012) – Freshman forward Alssene Saintilus (Irvington, NJ) recorded his first collegiate double-double to lead Chestnut Hill College against Philadelphia University on January 16 and earn himself an honorable mention for this week’s Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Rookie of the Week. Saintilus provided 15 points and ten rebounds in the Griffins 56-42 loss to Philadelphia University, in addition to two blocks and one steal on defense.

Saintilus was 6-of-9 (66.7%) from the field, 1-of-2 (50.0%) from three-point range, and 2-of-4 (50.0%) from the free throw line as the leading performer in last week’s lone contest. Headlining a miserable team shooting performance (14-of-52, 26.9%), Saintilus was a steady performer against the Rams. His consistency helped Chestnut Hill College (12-7, 5-2) keep within range of the Rams, as he offered seven points, six rebounds, a block, and a steal in a 26-9 run that placed the home team one point ahead of their opponents, 38-37, with seven minutes left to play (6:57). Unfortunately, the Griffins struggled to generate offense down the stretch, leaving the Rams to a 19-4 closing run and eventual victory.

Saintilus has recorded double figures in six games this season, while grabbing double digit rebounds twice as a freshman. For the season, he is averaging 8.1 points-per-game (PPG) and 4.1 rebounds-per-game (RPG), while also contributing a team-high 27 blocks, 11 steals, and four assists.

The men’s basketball team returns to action on Tuesday, January 24, when they host Dominican College in a 7:00 p.m. CACC contest.