LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Led by Preseason Player of the Year and reigning MAAC Offensive Player of the Year
Zaki Alibou (Meknes, Morocco/Meknes), the Rider University men's soccer team has been picked second in the MAAC Preseason Coaces' Poll, the league office today announced. Reigning Champion Marist received 120 points and 10 of 11 first-place votes, ahead of the Broncs with 97 points and the remaining first-place vote.
Fairfield (83), Quinnipiac (78) and Siena (72) followed the Broncs in the preseason poll, ahead of Niagara (67), Saint Peter's (64), Manhattan (54), Iona (53), Canisius (21) and Mount St. Mary's (17).
Alibou became Rider's first-ever MAAC Offensive Player of the Year last season. Prior to the inception of separate offensive and defensive awards in 2003, Craig Wicken '99 earned MAAC Player of the Year in 1997 and 1998. Alibou scored a team-best 10 goals and added five assists last season, including six goals and two assists in MAAC play. He scored twice at Quinnipiac on Oct. 6, before scoring once each against Niagara (Oct. 9), Marist (Oct. 13), Fairfield (Oct. 20) and Canisius (Oct. 23). He also added assists against Saint Peter's (Oct. 16) and Iona (Oct. 27). In non-league play, he scored once each against NJIT (Aug. 30), Central Connecticut (Sept. 2), La Salle (Sept. 11) and Stony Brook (Sept. 14), while dishing out three assists in a win over 2020-21 NCAA Qualifier Fordham (Sept. 22). He was named MAAC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 11.
The Broncs open the 2022 season on Thursday, Aug. 25, at Seton Hall. Kickoff is slated for 6:56 p.m. in South Orange, NJ.
| 2022 Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| 1 |
Marist |
120 (10) |
| 2 |
Rider |
97 (1) |
| 3 |
Fairfield |
83 |
| 4 |
Quinnipiac |
78 |
| 5 |
Siena |
72 |
| 6 |
Niagara |
67 |
| 7 |
Saint Peter's |
64 |
| 8 |
Manhattan |
54 |
| 9 |
Iona |
53 |
| 10 |
Canisius |
21 |
| 11 |
Mount St. Mary's |
17 |
| Preseason All-MAAC Team |
| Player |
Position |
Year |
Institution |
| Thomas Drillien |
Forward |
So. |
Fairfield |
| Camil Azzam Ruiz |
Forward |
Sr. |
Iona |
| Brage Aasen |
Forward |
Sr. |
Quinnipiac |
| Zaki Alibou |
Forward |
Sr. |
Rider |
| Henrique Cruz |
Midfield |
Sr. |
Marist |
| Jacob Sandun Arachchige-Jensen |
Midfield |
So. |
Siena |
| Erik Reis |
Midfield |
So. |
Siena |
| Cormac Pike |
Back |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| Tom Climpson |
Back |
Sr. |
Saint Peter's |
| Henrik Winkelmann |
Back |
So. |
Siena |
| Samuel Ilin |
Goalkeeper |
Gr. |
Marist |
