FIGHTING TIGER MENS SOCCER OPENS 2022 SEASON RANKED FIFTH IN NAC WESTERN DIVISION PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL

Cobleskill, N.Y.: The SUNY Cobleskill men’s soccer team will open the 2022 campaign ranked fifth overall in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Western Division Pre-Season Coaches Poll. The Fighting Tigers are coming off a 2021 season that saw them post a 4-12 overall record including a 3-6 mark against NAC opponents closing the year with a loss to SUNY Poly in the opening round of the league’s divisional play-off tournament.  

With the upcoming season fast approaching Fighting Tiger Head Coach Joseph Machado is anxious to the year to begin and excited about what lays ahead for his squad.  

“We’re excited for the new season in the NAC,” said Machado. “Last year was a learning experience in terms of what to expect and how to deal with things like travel and the style of play. Now it is time to take what we learned and apply it this year. 

Among the returning players who will be counted on this season are the team’s two leading scorers, senior defender Tanner Reisman, Youngstown, N.Y., Greece-Athena High School, and junior midfielder Cater Ciavardoni, Latham, N.Y., Shaker High School, who each tallied four goals and an assist on the year. Senior defender Ben Kessler, Eastport, N.Y., St. Anthony’s High Schoolalso returns after a season that saw him play a key role in anchoring the defense while passing out a pair of assists. 

The recruiting class will feature several newcomers who could become contributors to the program in the form of first-year midfielder Tanner Reisman, Youngstown, N.Y., Greece-Athena High School, first-year defender Dominic Ciano, Walden, N.Y., Valley Central High School, and first-year forward Trevor Masocco, Eden, N.Y., Eden High School. 

When evaluating the roster and the upcoming season, Coach Machado sees that this is a different Fighting Tiger version over last year.  

“We are definitely grittier and tougher defensively especially as our younger players learn to play Fighting Tiger soccer. Our DNA as a team has changed over the last year as we’ve gotten older and more experienced.” 

The Orange & Black will open the season when they host the Trailblazers of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) for a non-conference match-up at the college’s Soccer/Lacrosse Complex with kick-off slated for 4:00 PM 

2022 NAC Men’s Soccer Coaches Poll Results: 

Western Division Standings 

*Denotes First Place Votes 

Eastern Division Standings 

*Denotes First Place Votes