It’s going to take a lot to top the success of the 2013 Massachusetts Maritime men’s soccer season, as last fall saw the Buccaneers earn the first post-season victory in program history as part of a record-setting campaign.  Never one to rest on his laurels, however, Head Coach Greg Perry is ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead in 2014, as the veteran mentor welcomes back 12 letterwinners and six starters looking for even greater success in the months ahead.

Perry, whose 22^nd season on the sidelines makes him the ‘dean’ of Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference coaches, has built his program on a tradition of leadership, one in which he will look to seniors Rob Robbs (Braintree, Mass./Braintree), Stuart Kinsman (Granville, Mass./Southwick-Tolland) and Dillon Jones (Sagamore Beach, Mass./Bourne) to carry on as Buccaneer tri-captains this fall.

“One of the great aspects of coaching is seeing young men come in as freshmen and develop into leaders by example, and Rob, Stuart and Dillon are perfect examples of that,” Perry, the reigning MASCAC Champions’ Choice Coach of the Year, says of his captains.  “They know what my expectations are for them as student-athletes, and they will represent the program with class, dignity and integrity.”

Here’s how things are shaping up for the 2014 edition of Buccaneer Men’s Soccer:

FORWARD.  Junior Connor McInnis (Duxbury, Mass./Thayer Academy) shared the team scoring lead last season with four goals and an assist for nine points, as he netted the ‘golden goal’ in the closing minutes of the Buccaneers’ 1-0 conference quarterfinal round victory over Salem State as well as the lone tally in Massachusetts Maritime’s first series triumph over rival Coast Guard.  Kinsman appeared in 12 matches and lends experience after notching an assist a year ago, while freshmen Ryan Hardy (Pepperell, Mass./Groton-Dunstable), Alex Thompson (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) and Kevin O’Leary (Norton, Mass./Norton) will also be vying for time up front during their rookie campaigns.

MIDFIELD.  Two-time all-MASCAC performer Robbs anchors the middle for Perry, as he collected a goal and two assists for four points while starting 18 of 19 matches in 2013.  Sophomore Thomas McCarthy (Tybee Island, Ga./Benedictine Military) added three tallies in 16 appearances as a rookie, while junior Nick Parker (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth South) also added three goals in 14 contests (eight starts).  Juniors Taylor Sjoberg (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) and Ryan Culp (Centreville, Md./Kent Island) return after combining for 26 appearances, including 18 by Sjoberg that included an assist on offense, while freshmen Tim Paz (Baltic, Conn./Norwich Free Academy), Adam Floor (Bristol, R.I./Mt. Hope) and Alan Provost (Monson, Mass./Monson) look to make their marks as newcomers this season.

BACK.  Jones anchors Massachusetts Maritime’s defensive backfield after playing in all 19 contests last fall, as he chipped in with a goal and two assists on the offensive side.  Sophomore Matthew McDonough (Framingham, Mass./Framingham) started 15 of 19 matches as well for the Buccaneers, who also received 17 match appearances each (and a combined 12 starts) from junior Dylan Buckborough (Swansea, Mass./Case) and sophomore Scott Matoian (Mashpee, Mass./Mashpee).  Additionally, freshmen Paul and Chris Beaulieu (Carver, Mass./Carver), Michael Rouette (Three Rivers, Mass./Monson) and Kenyon Keyes (Orleans, Mass./Nauset) will be vying for defensive roles.

GOAL.  Sophomore Joe Cohen (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth South) returns as the line last of defense in the Buccaneer cage, as the three-time MASCAC Rookie of the Week honoree started 11 of 17 matches played while posting a 1.65 goals against average and making 89 saves for a .788 saves percentage.  Cohen, who played 1,311 minutes in 2013, notched six victories and recorded two solo and a pair of combined shutouts on the season, and he will be challenged by freshmen Tom Dacey (Raynham, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) and Mike Pruchnik (Rochester, Mass./Old Rochester) in net during the year.

SCHEDULE.  Perry’s crew will face another challenging 17-match slate in 2014, as Massachusetts Maritime will host Becker, Anna Maria, UMass Dartmouth, nationally ranked Brandeis and UMass Boston in non-league play as well as Salem State, Fitchburg State, rival Bridgewater State and MCLA in MASCAC match-ups.  The Buccaneers will visit rival Coast Guard, Wentworth, WPI, Nichols and Salve Regina in non-league action while also making trips to Westfield State, Worcester State and Framingham State for conference clashes.

Massachusetts Maritime kicks off the 2014 season on Wednesday, September 3^rd when the Buccaneers entertain Becker in a non-league outing at Clean Harbors Stadium that begins at 7:00 p.m. EDT.