Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Danny Boyle
Men’s Soccer Picked to Finish 9th in AAC Preseason Poll
8.23.22 | Men's Soccer
IRVING, Texas – The Temple men's soccer team was picked to finish ninth out of ten teams in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll, as voted on by league coaches. Tulsa was picked as the preseason favorite with 81 points and nine out of a possible nine first place votes. The Golden Hurricanes were also voted No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason top 25 and captured all three major preseason awards. This season, four teams will make their men's soccer debut in the American Athletic Conference. Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, and UAB join the American after previously competing in Conference USA.
Temple will look to rebound after an injury plagued 2021 season. Former All-AAC selections Eoin Gawronski, Sean Karani, and Mike Eijgendaal headline a roster loaded with Division I talent and experience. The Owls kick off a slate featuring a record setting 11 home matches this Thursday at the Temple Sports Complex as they host Lehigh. Admission is free to all fans, and game will be streamed on ESPN+.
First-place votes in parenthesis
Offensive Player of the Year
Alex Meinhard, Jr., F, Tulsa
Defensive Player of the Year
Mariano Fazio, Sr., D, Tulsa
Goalkeeper of the Year
Alex Lopez, So., Tulsa*
Preseason All-Conference Team
Lucca Dourado, Jr., F, UCF*
Anderson Rosa, Jr., D, UCF
Gino Vivi, Sr., F, UCF
Tom Abrahamsson, Sr., D, FAU
Stephen Afrifa, Jr., F, FIU
Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro, So., F, FIU
Matteo Gasperoni, Gr., M, FIU
Sal Mazzaferro, Jr., D, South Florida
Shion Soga, So., M, South Florida
Knut Ahlander, Gr., M, SMU
Mariano Fazio, Sr., D, Tulsa*
Alex Lopez, So., GK, Tulsa*
Alex Meinhard, Jr., F, Tulsa*
Henry Sach, Sr., M, Tulsa
* denotes unanimous selection
Temple will look to rebound after an injury plagued 2021 season. Former All-AAC selections Eoin Gawronski, Sean Karani, and Mike Eijgendaal headline a roster loaded with Division I talent and experience. The Owls kick off a slate featuring a record setting 11 home matches this Thursday at the Temple Sports Complex as they host Lehigh. Admission is free to all fans, and game will be streamed on ESPN+.
| Preseason Coaches Poll | ||
| 1 | Tulsa (9) | 81 |
| 2 | UCF | 66 |
| 3 | Charlotte | 60 |
| FIU (1) | 60 | |
| 5 | SMU | 58 |
| 6 | South Florida | 36 |
| 7 | Memphis | 31 |
| 8 | FAU | 27 |
| 9 | Temple | 19 |
| 10 | UAB | 14 |
Offensive Player of the Year
Alex Meinhard, Jr., F, Tulsa
Defensive Player of the Year
Mariano Fazio, Sr., D, Tulsa
Goalkeeper of the Year
Alex Lopez, So., Tulsa*
Preseason All-Conference Team
Lucca Dourado, Jr., F, UCF*
Anderson Rosa, Jr., D, UCF
Gino Vivi, Sr., F, UCF
Tom Abrahamsson, Sr., D, FAU
Stephen Afrifa, Jr., F, FIU
Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro, So., F, FIU
Matteo Gasperoni, Gr., M, FIU
Sal Mazzaferro, Jr., D, South Florida
Shion Soga, So., M, South Florida
Knut Ahlander, Gr., M, SMU
Mariano Fazio, Sr., D, Tulsa*
Alex Lopez, So., GK, Tulsa*
Alex Meinhard, Jr., F, Tulsa*
Henry Sach, Sr., M, Tulsa
* denotes unanimous selection
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, June 02
Saturday, May 30
Tuesday, May 19
Tuesday, May 05
