Men’s Soccer Meets Mass. Maritime in 2019 Season Debut

SATURDAY, AUG. 31 // 12:00 PM  CLEAN HARBORS STADIUM // BUZZARDS BAY, MASS. LIVE STATS
EYES ON THE MATCH SERIES RECORD // SUFFOLK TRAILS, 3-8 LAST MEETING // SEPT. 1, 2018, L, 2-1 LAST SUFFOLK WIN // SEPT. 2, 2017, W, 2-1 STREAK // L1

BOSTON – For the second consecutive campaign, the Suffolk men's soccer team makes the trip to Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, for its first tilt of the season as the Rams are set to take on Mass. Maritime in each team's season opener Saturday, Aug. 31. First kick is set for 12 p.m. 

LET'S TALK ABOUT #RAMNATION
RamNation has a chance to keep up with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics, its student-athletes and teams by following the Rams on  Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

RAPID REWIND
Injuries plagued Suffolk a year ago and kept the Rams, who went 4-11-1 overall and 3-7-1 versus GNAC competition, out of playoff content. 

GUESS WHO'S BACK
Back in Suffolk's line-up is not only last year's leading scorers in senior James Fisher (5g) and sophomore Leonardo Acosta (3g, 2a), but also 2017's top offensive threat Christian Restrepo, who put together a two-goal, three-assist that season. Jarrett Davis, the 2016 GNAC Rookie of the Year, returns to the pitch as well after two seasons away.

The Rams return experience between the goal posts in sophomore Tom Bennett, who defended the net in 11 outings as a freshman with eight starts. The Minnetonka, Minnesota, native registered a 2.46 GAA and a .700 save percentage with one shutout to his credit as a rookie.

NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES
Eight newcomers will rep blue-and-gold for the first time in their careers. One sophomore transfer, Trevor Murdock, is in the mix along with seven true freshmen. 

MORE READING:Rams Rookies: 2019 Men's Soccer

POSITION PLAUDITS
Position wise, there are equal part defenders and forwards with nine each to go along with six midfielders and three keepers. 

GEOGRAPHY 101
Suffolk's 27-man roster is comprised of national and international student-athletes mainly Bay State locals with more than half the Rams calling Massachusetts home. A trio hails from both New Hampshire and Florida with a pair of Connecticut locals. Minnesota is represented by one student-athlete each. Internationally, there are two Northern Mariana Island natives and one Indonesian product who have brought their talents to Beantown. 

CLASS CATEGORIES
The Rams' roster is split in half by under and upperclassmen. The seven-member senior class is complimented by an eight-man junior contingent. Five sophomores round out the veterans with seven rookies joining the fold. 

RAMS RINGLEADERS
For the second straight season, a core group of four Rams have been given leadership responsibilities of the Suffolk men's soccer team in seniors Jarrett Davis, Jackson Hines, Christian Restrepoand Simon Velez Angel as the 2019 captains. 

MORE READING:Senior Quartet Named 2019 Men's Soccer Captains 

SCHEDULE SNID BITS
Suffolk's 36th men's soccer season features a 16-game calendar with eight matches to be played on the friendly confines of the Rams' home pitch, James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park. 

OPENING ACT

• Suffolk looks to get back in the win column on day one of the season after slipping to Mass. Maritime a year ago.
• Since 2002, the Rams are 10-7 in the first test of the year.
• Suffolk will play on the road for the season debut for the second consecutive campaign. The Rams are 4-5 when opening the curtain on its campaign away from home since 2002.
• The Rams have locked up a victory in game one of the season in shutout fashion four times since 2002. The last time the blue-and-gold blanked its opponent in the first contest of the year was a 5-0 triumph over Eastern Nazarene in 2007.
• On the flip side of things, Suffolk has been kept off the scoreboard twice in game one. Framingham State is the last opponent to hold the blue-and-gold scoreless in the season debut, doing so in 2014 by a 4-0 margin.
• Suffolk will face Mass. Maritime for the third time in the season opener and third straight year, dating back to 2002. The Rams are 1-1 when playing the Buccaneers in game one since the 2002 campaign. 

#RAMSFANFEST
All members of Ram Nation are invited by Suffolk Athletics to East Boston Memorial Park Saturday, Oct. 5 for the fifth-annual Rams Fan Fest Event. 

At the fifth-annual event, Ram Nation is asked to bring donations for the Suffolk CARES Pantry, which assists students in finding the best resources for their individual needs. Suffolk CARES strives to empower students to advocate for themselves so that they may remain personally and academically successful. Suffolk CARES consists of a combination of resources and programs managed by the director of student outreach and support. 

PRESEASON POLL POSITION
Suffolk picked up 64 points, including one first-place nod, in the GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was voted on by the conference's 12 head coaches, to finish ninth.

BUCCANEERS BREAKDOWN
Mass. Maritime, who is coming off a 5-11-1 season, has 17 players returning to the pitch with a number of freshmen making their collegiate debuts.  

The core of the Bucs' offense from a year ago is back in the line-up headline by top offensive threat Benjamin Cook, who put away eight goals and set-up three others in 2018. Andrew Wayrynen (4g, 3a) and Stephen Froio (5g) are also back in the fold for MMA.  

Keeper is up for grabs as last season's go-to goalie, Connor Murphy, graduated. Mitch Hardy brings in the most experience. He backed up Murphy last year, playing 11 games, starting seven, to go put together a 2.19 GAA and .655 save percentage.  

INSIDE THE SERIES

• The Suffolk, Mass. Maritime rivalry dates back to 1989 with the Buccaneers commanding the majority of the first 10 meetings to hold an 8-3 all-time series record over the Rams. 
• In 2017, the two foes renewed the meetings and since then, have meet in the season debut over the last season seasons. Suffolk took the first (2017) and Mass. Maritime (2018) captured last year's dual with each contest being determined by a 2-1 margin.  

EYES ON THE GAME
 

COMING UP
Suffolk remains on the road Wednesday, Sept. 4 when it makes the short trip to Eastern Nazarene for a midweek 7 p.m. matchup in Quincy, Massachusetts.