BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University Bears have been picked to finish fourth in the 2013 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men’s soccer standings in a vote of the league’s coaches.  The MASCAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll was announced by MASCAC Director of Media Relations, Emily Diekelmann.

Salem State, which claimed the conference regular season title last fall, captured four first place votes for 58 points and as the Vikings topped last year’s tournament champion Westfield State’s total of 53 points that included three first place votes. Framingham State is next in third place with 49 points, while Bridgewater State and Worcester State rounded out the top five with 43 and 30 points, respectively. In a tie for sixth with 19 points apiece are Massachusetts Maritime and Fitchburg State, followed by MCLA with 17 points.

Head Coach Brendan Adams returns for his 12th season at the helm of the BSU men’s soccer program.  The all-time winningest coach in program history, Adams has produced an overall record of 102-81-20 (.552), with an impressive 47-21-9 (.669) mark in conference regular season matches.

Adams will look to returning All-MASCAC selections, seniors Craig Shadduck (Braintree, Mass.) and Luke Samperi (North Easton, Mass.), as well as the 2012 MASCAC Rookie of the Year, Kolin Campbell (Norton, Mass.), to lead his charges into the 2013 campaign.

Shadduck finished the 2012 season with five goals and two assists for 12 points in 17 games as he split time between defender and forward.  He tied for third in the MASCAC in game-winning goals (3), tied for seventh in goals and tied for ninth in scoring. Through 52 games over his first three seasons at BSU, Shadduck has 13 goals and nine assists to his credit for a total of 35 points.  Five of his 13 goals have been game-winners.

Samperi was the only player to start all 19 games for Bridgewater State in 2012 as he anchored a defensive unit which helped the Bears post four shutouts and a 1.39 goals against average.  Samperi has played in 27 games, made 24 starts and had a part in eight shutouts over his first two seasons with the team.

Campbell played in 15 games and made 14 starts in his rookie campaign on defense an and in the midfield despite missing four games due to injury.  He helped the Bears notch three shutouts and post a 1.38 goals against average in the 15 games he appeared in.

The Bridgewater State men’s soccer team will open the 2013 campaign on Wednesday night, September 4th as the Bears host regional rival Babson College at seven.  The MASCAC opener is slated for Saturday, September 21st when the Bears travel to Framingham State to take on the Rams at one.

Last season, the Bears posted an overall record of 9-9-1 with a 3-3-1 mark in MASCAC play.  Seeded fourth at the conference tournament, Bridgewater earned a 2-1 victory over #5 Worcester State in the quarterfinals, before dropping a 3-1 decision to top-seeded Salem State in the semifinal round.