Garcia Gallego Named Co-MAAC Preseason POY, Pios Rank Sixth in Poll
8/13/2025 10:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
McCann joins Garcia Gallego on Preseason All-MAAC Team
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - David Garcia Gallego and Sam McCann earned preseason awards from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Garcia Gallego was named Co-Player of the Year with Rider's Theo Da Silva. Both Pioneers earned spots on the Preseason All-MAAC Team.
Garcia Gallego finished the 2024 season with a team-leading five goals and 10 points including game-winning goals against Lehigh and MAAC Opponent Saint Peter's. McCann is coming off a season where he scored three goals and tallied four assists. He tied Garcia Gallego with 10 points.
"First of all, congratulations to David," said head coach Anthony Anzevui. "It's a great honor for him and of course for the program, his teammates, and the University. We're so proud of him. He has been with us for 4 years, he works extremely hard and has continued to improve each year. He had a great season last year scoring five goals and earning All-MAAC First Team selection. It's great to see his impact recognized by the MAAC. It's great news for Sam. We're delighted for him. He's settled in very well with us – of course he knew the MAAC which helped with the transition. His work rate and pace are a big asset for us and great to see that recognized by the MAAC coaches."
The conference also released the pre-season poll for the 2025 season.
SHU men's soccer was voted sixth in the 2025 Preseason Poll with 109 points and a first-place vote.
The preseason coaches' poll is selected by the MAAC coaches and was announced through the league's social media channels.
The Pioneers are coming off their first-winning season since 2012, finishing 2024 with an 8-6-2 mark. SHU went 3-3-2 in its first MAAC campaign to claim the seventh seed in the conference tournament.
Leading the way in the poll is Iona and Rider. Iona ranked first with 161 points and eight first-place votes, while Rider is ranked second with 155 points and one of the five remaining first-place votes.
Siena sits third in the preseason poll with 124 points, just ahead of Marist (120 with a first-place vote) in fourth. Tied for fourth in the poll is Quinnipiac (120) and behind the Pios in seventh place is Manhattan (97 with a first-place vote). Fairfield finishes out the top half of the rankings in eighth place (87 with a first-place vote). Mount St. Mary's (67), Merrimack (40), Canisius (39), Saint Peter's (36), and Niagara (28) conclude the 13-team poll.
Sacred Heart opens its 2025 season at 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 21, when it faces the defending national champion Vermont in a non-conference match at Virtue Field.
MAAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Iona
2. Rider
3. Siena
T4. Marist
T4. Quinnipiac
6. Sacred Heart
7. Manhattan
8. Fairfield
9. Mount St. Mary's
10. Merrimack
11. Canisius
12. Saint Peter's
13. Niagara
