The 2019 Atlantic 10 Conference men's soccer season was the 33rd season of men's college soccer in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The season began on August 30, 2019, and concluded on November 2, 2019.
The regular season and tournament was won by Rhode Island. Rhode Island bested VCU for the regular season championship and Dayton for the tournament championship. Rhode Island earned the Atlantic 10's automatic, and only, berth into the 2019 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament, where they lost in the opening round to Syracuse.
Dayton's Jonas Fjeldberg won the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year, while Joergen Oland won the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year Award. Gareth Elliott won the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year Award.
Background Previous season
UMass entered the season as the defending regular season and tournament champions. The Minutemen finished eighth in the regular season and were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the A-10 Tournament by VCU. VCU won the regular season championship, giving the Rams their first A-10 regular season title, and their first regular season championship overall since 2004. Rhode Island won the tournament, given them their first A-10 tournament title since 2006.
Rhode Island at the A-10 Tournament champions, earned the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. They were the only berth the A-10 sent to the NCAA Tournament. There they were defeated by their rivals, Connecticut, 3–4.
Coaching changes Fordham head coach, Jim McElderry, resigned at the end of the 2018 season to accept the head coaching job at Rutgers University. On January 30, 2019, Fordham hired Carlo Acquista as the program's head coach.
SchoolOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming coachDate of appointment Fordham Jim McElderry Hired by Rutgers Preseason Carlo Acquista
Head coaches
Team Head coach Previous job Years atschool Overall record Record atschool Atlantic 10record NCAATournaments NCAACollege Cups NCAATitles Ref.Davidson UChicago 1 5 0 0 Dayton Incarnate Word 14 9 0 0 Duquesne Niagara 7 1 0 0 Fordham Adelphi 1 9 0 0 George Mason Columbus Crew 14 5 0 0 George Washington George Washington (asst.) 8 0 0 0 La Salle Kean 3 0 0 0 UMass Bowdoin 4 7 2 0 Rhode Island Siena 7 1 0 0 St. Bonaventure Canisius (asst.) 4 0 0 0 Saint Joseph's Philadelphia Kixx 9 0 0 0 Saint Louis SIU Edwardsville 2 0 0 0 VCU Akron (asst.) 9 3 0 0
Preseason Preseason poll The preseason poll was released on August 22, 2019. Team ranking Points (First) 1. VCU 159 (8) 2.Saint Louis146 (2) 3.Rhode Island142 (3) 4. Dayton121 5. Fordham109 6. Davidson102 7.George Mason93 8.Saint Joseph's78 9. UMass63 10.Duquesne57 11. George Washington55 12. St. Bonaventure42 13. La Salle16
Preseason national polls The preseason national polls will be released in July and August 2019. UnitedSoccer CSNTop DrawerSoccerDavidson ———Dayton ———Duquesne ———Fordham ———George Mason ———George Washington ———La Salle ———UMass ———Rhode Island RV RV —St. Bonaventure ———Saint Joseph's ———Saint Louis RV RV —VCU RV ——
Regular season Early season tournaments
Five teams participated in early season soccer tournaments hosted either by themselves or other nearby universities.
Team Tournament FinishDaytonDayton Tournament2ndOhio State Tournament4thDuquesneRMU–Duquesne Classic1stRhode IslandOcean State Soccer Cup1stSt. BonaventureUMBC–Navy Tournament1stVCUStihl Soccer Classic2nd VCU Tournament 3rd
Positions by round
Postseason Atlantic 10 Tournament
The 2019 A-10 Tournament was held from November 9 to November 17. Fordham University hosted the tournament from the semifinals onwards. Rhode Island defended their A10 Tournament title and earned the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
NCAA Tournament
The NCAA Tournament began on November 17, 2019, and concluded on December 15, 2019.
Seed Region School 1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship 1 Rhode Island L 2–3 vs. Syracuse – (Syracuse, NY)W–L–T (%): Total:
Rankings National rankings Improvement in ranking Drop in rankingRVReceived votes but were not ranked in Top 25NVNo votes received Pre Wk 1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 Wk15 Wk16 FinalDavidson NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNone releasedNV NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVDayton NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNone releasedNV NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVDuquesne NVNVNVNVRVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNone releasedNV NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVFordham NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNone releasedNV NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVGeorge Mason NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNone releasedNV NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVGeorge Washington NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNone releasedNV NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVLa Salle NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNone releasedNV NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVUMass NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNone releasedNV NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVRhode Island RVNVNVNVNVNVRVNVRVRVRVRVRVNone releasedRV NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVSt. Bonaventure NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNone releasedNV NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVSaint Joseph's NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNone releasedNV NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVSaint Louis RVNVNVNVNVNVRVRVRVRVNVNVNVNone releasedNV NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVVCU RVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNone releasedNV NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNV
Regional rankings - USC Southeast Improvement in ranking Drop in rankingRVReceived votes but were not ranked in Top 10NVNo votes received Wk 1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 DavidsonNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVDaytonNVNVNVNV8RVNV1099DuquesneNVNV107NV810NVNVNVFordhamNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVGeorge MasonNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVGeorge WashingtonNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVLa SalleNVNVNVNVNV10NVNVNVNVUMass1067NVNVNVNVNVNVNVRhode IslandNVNVNVNVNV97666St. BonaventureNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVSaint Joseph'sNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVSaint LouisNVNVNV10975557VCU6NVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNV
Awards and honors
Player of the week honors Week Offensive DefensiveRookieRef. Player Position Team Player Position TeamPlayerPositionTeam Week 1Tunde AkinlosotuFWGeorge MasonRobbie McKelveyGKDuquesne Maverick McGannFWVCU Week 2Ritchie BarryFWDuquesneMarvyn DorchinDFUMassAlex HartmannMFSaint Joseph's Week 3Max HoldsworthMFGeorge WashingtonJustin GradyDFGeorge WashingtonJustin Stone MFDavidson Week 4Manel BusquetsFWDuquesneRobbie McKelveyGKDuquesneToluwalase OladeinboMFDayton Week 5Omari CotterellFWLa SalleFederico Barrios GKDaytonCarlos MoraGKLa SalleRyo ShimazakiMFVCU Week 6Edvin AkselsenFWRhode IslandBrett WernerDFLa SalleNate DragisichMFDuquesne Week 7Jonas FjeldbergFWDaytonPatrick SchulteGKSaint LouisToluwalase OladeinboMFDayton Week 8Jonas FjeldbergFWDaytonXavier ZengueDFDaytonToluwalase OladeinboMFDayton Week 9Jonas FjeldbergFWDaytonMario SequeiraGKVCUCarlos MoraGKLa Salle Week 10Lucas HauthFWDavidsonKonstantin Weisa GKFordhamJustin StoneMFDavidson
Postseason honors 2019 Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer Individual Awards Award Recipient(s)Offensive Player of the YearJonas Fjeldberg – DaytonDefensive Player of the YearJørgen Oland – FordhamMidfielder of the YearKingsford Adjei – DaytonCoach of the YearGareth Elliott – Rhode IslandFreshman of the YearToluwalase Oladeinbo – Dayton
2019 Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer All-Conference Teams First Team Honorees Second Team Honorees All-Freshman Team Honorees Academic Award HonoreesJonas Fjeldberg, Dayton Fillippo Tamburini, Rhode Island Stavros Zarokostas, Rhode Island Leo Novaes, Saint Louis Kingsford Adjei, Dayton Manel Busquets, Duquesne Edvin Akselsen, Rhode Island Jørgen Oland, Fordham Peder Kristiansen, Rhode Island Ryo Shimazaki, VCU Federico Barrios, DaytonToluwalase Oladeinbo, Dayton Pat McCarthy, La Salle Biska Biyombo, VCU Devin Boyce, Saint Louis Matteo Kidd, Saint Louis Fortia Munts, VCU Elias Harryson, Dayton Niklas Middrup, Rhode Island Kipp Keller, Saint Louis Ulrik Edvardsen, VCU Stefan Schmidt, Rhode IslandJustin Stone, Davidson Toluwalase Oladeinbo, Dayton Andy Sanchez, Dayton Xavier Zengue, Dayton Nate Dragisich, Duquesne Liam Emson, George Washington Franc Gamiz Quer, La Salle Joshua Pulla, St. Bonaventure Kipp Keller, Saint Louis Mujeeb Murana, Saint Louis Patrick Schulte, Saint LouisJohannes Pieles, Fordham Ryan Mingachos, George Mason Haukur Hilmarsson, George Washington Noah Lubin, George Washington Ryan Saul, Massachusetts Peder Kristiansen, Rhode Island Niklas Middrup, Rhode Island Stefan Schmidt, Rhode Island Shea Curry, St. Bonaventure David Grana, Saint Joseph's David Viox, Saint Louis Simon Fitch, VCU
Regional awards
Player School Honor Kingsford AdjeiMFDaytonUnited Soccer Coaches Third-Team All-Southeast Region Edvin Akselsen MFRhode IslandUnited Soccer Coaches Second-Team All-Southeast RegionBiska BiyomboFWVCUUnited Soccer Coaches Third-Team All-Southeast RegionManel BusquetsMFDuquesneUnited Soccer Coaches Second-Team All-Southeast RegionJonas FjeldbergFWDaytonUnited Soccer Coaches Second-Team All-Southeast RegionKipp KellerMFSaint LouisUnited Soccer Coaches Third-Team All-Southeast Region Peder KristiansenDFRhode IslandUnited Soccer Coaches First-Team All-Southeast RegionLeo NovaesFWSaint LouisUnited Soccer Coaches Second-Team All-Southeast RegionJørgen OlandDFFordhamUnited Soccer Coaches Third-Team All-Southeast RegionRyo ShimazakiDFVCUUnited Soccer Coaches Third-Team All-Southeast RegionStavros ZarokostasFWRhode IslandUnited Soccer Coaches Third-Team All-Southeast Region
National awards
Player School Honor David GranaDFSaint Joseph'sCoSIDA Third-Team Academic All-AmericanKipp KellerMFSaint LouisCollege Soccer News First-Team Freshman All-AmericanTopDrawer Soccer First-Team Freshman All-American Peder KristiansenDFRhode IslandCollege Soccer News Third-Team All-AmericanSoccer America Third-Team All-AmericanUnited Soccer Coaches Third-Team All-AmericanJohannes PielesFWFordhamCoSIDA Third-Team Academic All-American
2020 MLS Draft
The 2020 MLS SuperDraft was held on January 9, 2020. Three players from the conference were drafted.
Total picks by school
TeamRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Total Davidson00000Dayton00000Duquesne00000Fordham00011George Mason00000George Washington00000La Salle00000UMass00000Rhode Island00101St. Bonaventure00000Saint Joseph's00000Saint Louis00000VCU00101
List of selections
Player Team School359DFColumbus CrewVCU (Sr.)362FWNew York Red BullsRhode Island (Sr.)494DFPortland TimbersFordham (Sr.)
Homegrown players
The Homegrown Player Rule is a Major League Soccer program that allows MLS teams to sign local players from their own development academies directly to MLS first team rosters. Before the creation of the rule in 2008, every player entering Major League Soccer had to be assigned through one of the existing MLS player allocation processes, such as the MLS SuperDraft.
To place a player on its homegrown player list, making him eligible to sign as a homegrown player, players must have resided in that club's home territory and participated in the club's youth development system for at least one year. Players can play college soccer and still be eligible to sign a homegrown contract.
No players from the Atlantic 10 Conference signed homegrown contracts.
References
External links Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer