2016 Men's Soccer Season Preview

2016 Men's Soccer Video Season Preview

BEVERLY, Mass. – Coming off a 2015 season that saw the Gulls boast a program-best 16-win season and secure the top seed heading into postseason play, Endicott finished as runner-up in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship and will look to get back into title contention in 2016.

Head coach Joe Calabrese, the reigning CCC Coach of the Year, is in his sixth year at the helm of a program that returns a handful of starters and brought in a talented crop of new faces that will look to build upon the success of the team. Here's a preview of the upcoming season, which begins this Friday, September 2 at home against Carthage at 7:00 p.m.

RETURNING CAST (ROSTER):  Leading the squad in 2016 will be the very decorated junior back in Carter Ocko (Danvers, Mass.), whose recent accolades include 2015 CCC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, NSCAA Third Team All-American, NSCAA All-New England First Team, and ECAC New England First Team All-Star. All-CCC First Team goalkeeper and NSCAA All-New England Second Team honoree Nick Weinstein (Trumbull, Conn.) returns in goal for his senior season as a four-time CCC Defensive Player of the Week in 2015 on his way to matching the program's all-time program record for most career shutouts (13) that he will look to surpass in 2016. Additionally, Weinstein set single season program record in wins (16), save percentage (.864), goals against average (0.61), and most shutouts, 13, (including 822:19 consecutive minutes of a shutout streak spanning more than eight matches) last season. 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR (SCHEDULE): The Gulls kick off the 2016 campaign at Hempstead Stadium on Friday, September 2 against Carthage in the North Shore Invitational and will use another difficult schedule that features five teams that appeared in the 2015 DIII Men's Soccer NCAA Tournament to prepare for a shot at bringing home the program's first-ever CCC title. The Gulls have a home-field heavy month of September with six of nine contests at Hempstead Stadium, including a Senior Day celebration against Curry at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 17, and a Homecoming match versus Roger Williams on Saturday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m. Endicott then heads on the road in October for seven of nine matches and will wrap up the regular season on Tuesday, October 25 at 7:00 p.m at Gordon. For the full schedule click here.

PRESEASON PLAUDITS (POLL): Endicott was picked to finish second after receiving 90 points, including three first place votes.

2015 YEAR IN REVIEW: The Gulls finished their 2015 season as runner-up in the CCC Men's Soccer Championship with a 16-3-4 record overall and 8-0-1 mark in conference play. 

For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.