Men's Soccer 9/6/2023 11:00:00 AM

Lehman Chosen to Repeat as Conference Champions in Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll; Preseason Players to Watch Announced

FLUSHING, N.Y. – The City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) has announced its annual preseason poll for the 2023 men’s soccer season, and Lehman was chosen to repeat as conference champions, as voted upon by the league’s head coaches. Head coaches were not permitted to vote for their own program.

The 2023 CUNYAC Men’s Soccer Championship will take place from October 25 through November 4. The six-team, single-elimination tournament will be hosted by the higher seed for each of the first two rounds. The opening round is scheduled for Wednesday, October 25 followed by the semifinals on Saturday, October 28, and concluding with the championship match on Saturday, November 4 at Queens College.

Lehman was awarded 46 points and four first-place votes. The Lightning went 10-5-2 last season, defeating top-seeded Baruch to win their first conference championship since 2017.

Baruch was chosen second in the poll with 44 points and three first-place tallies. The Bearcats captured a second consecutive regular season title in 2022 but fell to Lehman in the league championship final.

Hunter was picked third with 39 points and the remaining first-place vote. John Jay was slated to finish fourth with 28 points, followed by CCNY (26), Brooklyn (21), York (13) and Medgar Evers (7) to round out the eight-team ballot.

2023 CUNYAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Lehman – 46 Points (Four First-Place Votes)
2. Baruch – 44 (3)
3. Hunter – 39 (1)
4. John Jay – 28
5. CCNY – 26
6. Brooklyn – 21
7. York – 13
8. Medgar Evers - 7

CUNYAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Players to Watch

Arman Celebi (Baruch): So., Brooklyn, N.Y. / NYCiSchool – Celebi was named a Second Team CUNYAC All-Star in 2022, appearing in 14 games including eight starts. He finished the season with six goals and two assists for 14 points, good for second on the team.

Jordi Hernandez (Brooklyn): Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y. / FDR – Hernandez made 14 starts for the Bulldogs in 2022, scoring a team-high four goals. At the end of the season, he landed a spot on the CUNYAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

Yusuf Abdelmegid (CCNY): Jr., El-Alamein, Egypt / Vanguard – Abdelmegid appeared in 15 games for the Beavers in 2022, dishing out a pair of assists.

Matthew Heimowitz (Hunter): Jr., Great Neck, N.Y. / Great Neck North – Heimowitz made 10 starts in goal for the Hawks in 2022, recording 43 saves with a .672 save percentage. The keeper made a season-high 13 stops in a win over FDU-Florham in the first round of the ECAC Championship.

Justin Gharbin (John Jay): Sr., Brooklyn, N.Y. / Cristo Rey Brooklyn – Gharbin was a First Team All-CUNYAC performer in 2022. The forward played in all 18 games for the Bloodhounds, pacing the squad in points (15) and goals (7).

Philip Osei (Lehman): So., Westchester, N.Y. / Westchester Square Academy – Osei was the 2022 CUNYAC Rookie of the Year, scoring nine times while dishing our four assists for a team-high 22 points. In the conference final, he notched one goal and one assist to earn to Championship Game MVP recognition.

Taye Simon (Medgar Evers): So., Trinidad and Tobago, WI / Presentation College San Fernando - Simon started 15 games in a Cougars uniform in his rookie campaign.

Stanley Sanchez (York): So., East Elmhurst, N.Y. / Aviation – Sanchez started every game for the Cardinals in 2022, pacing the squad in points (11) and goals (5). At the end of the season, he was named a CUNYAC Second Team All-Star and earned the York College Men’s Soccer Most Outstanding Award.

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