Brodie Keene works on his footwork during a drill at the Owls practice Monday. (Photo courtesy of Westfield State Sports)
WESTFIELD – Westfield State University’s men’s soccer team was picked to finish in a tie for third-place in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference in the loop’s annual poll of its coaches.
Westfield finished with 31 points and one first place vote, tying with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
The Owls finished the 2015 campaign with a 6-10-1 overall record, but a 5-2 mark in conference play. The Owls were awarded the top seed in the MASCAC tournament but were ultimately ousted by Bridgewater State, which won the tournament title. The Bears were picked to finish first in the 2016 poll.
Westfield returns its leading scorer in sophomore forward Brodie Keene (Agawam/Feeding Hills, Mass.), who tallied seven goals and two assists for 16 points. The Owls also return three players who earned all-conference honors in 2015; junior defender Cam Ritter (Agawam, Mass.), sophomore midfielder Cody Baglow (Amherst, Mass.) and junior goalkeeper Alex Kraver (West Springfield, Mass.).
Westfield opened its preseason training camp this weekend with 34 players reporting.
The Owls open the 2016 campaign at the University of Southern Maine on Friday, September 2 at the USM Invitational Tournament in Gorham, Maine. – Courtesy of Westfield State Sports
