BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men's cross country team has been picked to finish in first place at the 2021 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Championships as the MASCAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll was released today by conference director of media relations, Emily Loux.

The defending champion Bears received 34 points in the poll including five first place votes to edge Fitchburg State University. The Falcons picked up 30 points and a pair of first place votes. Westfield State University rounded out the top three teams in the poll with 29 points.

Under the guidance of head coach Connor Foley (4th Year), the Bridgewater State men's cross country team will return to action for the first time since 2019. The Bears captured the MASCAC Championship in 2019, their first title since 2012.

Seniors Shawn Driscoll-Gomez (Medford, Mass.) and Ryan Glynn (Abington, Mass.) as well as juniors Maxwell Dunderdale (Taunton, Mass.), Ryan Goldman (Franklin, Mass.), Jack Owen (Weymouth, Mass.) and Cameron Riley (Shrewsbury, Mass.) each return from the 2019 squad and will help lead the Bears in 2021.

The Bears will open the season on Friday, September 3rd (6:00) when they travel to the Mark Coogan Cross Country Course in Attleboro, Massachusetts for a quad meet with Babson College, UMass Dartmouth and host Wheaton College. The 2021 MASCAC Championships will take place on Saturday, October 30th at the Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster, Mass. with Fitchburg State University serving as the host institution.