George Washington University Athletics
GW Men's Soccer Opens 2016 Season on Friday
8/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
| GW at William & Mary | GW vs. Binghamton |
| Friday, Aug. 26, 7 p.m. | Monday, Aug. 29, 2 p.m. |
| Williamsburg, Va.| Albert-Daly Field at Martin Family Stadium | Washington, DC | GW Soccer Field |
| Live Stats | Live Video | | Live Video |
WASHINGTON - The George Washington men's soccer squad kicks off the 2016 season on Friday evening at William & Mary for a 7 p.m. contest at the Tribe's Albert-Daly Field at Martin Family Stadium. The Colonials then return home to host Binghamton at the GW Soccer Field on the Mount Vernon Campus on Monday for a 2 p.m. contest.
The Colonials open the season after claiming the Atlantic 10 regular season title a year ago and were picked to finish tied for fifth in the 2016 preseason poll. Seniors Tobi Adewole and Garrett Heine were each named to the A-10 Preseason All-Conference Team on Wednesday.
Heine returns for GW after a standout junior campaign that saw the midfielder tally a team-high nine goals and 22 points. The 2015 A-10 All-Conference First Team and NSCAA All-Region Third Team selection netted a league-best six gamewinners, ranking him fifth in the nation last season.
Adewole looks to lead the back line after posting a strong 2015, when the defender helped the Colonials to seven shutouts en route to A-10 All-Conference Second Team and NSCAA All-Midweste Region Third Team recognition. The senior added a goal and two assists for four points last season.
GW also returns junior Christian Lawal, a dangerous forward who ranked second on the squad in scoring last year with four goals while adding three assists. Lawal landed on the A-10 All-Conference Second Team for his efforts.
William & Mary returns 20 letterwinners and nine starters from a year ago, including 2015 CAA Rookie of the Year Marcel Berry, who was ranked the No. 46 best freshman by TopDrawerSoccer.com and was named a Third-Team Freshman All-American by College Soccer News. The midfielder appeared in 17 matches in 2015, making 15 starts and tallying three goals and four assists.
The Tribe landed four student-athletes on Preseason All-CAA Teams: Berry, William Eskay, Ryder Bell, and Antonio Bustamante. All four posted double-digit points a year ago, led by Eskay's six goals and eight assists.
The Colonials will meet the Tribe for the 20th time in program history and the first time since 1998 on Friday. GW leads the all-time series 8-7-4.
Binghamton also opens 2016 on Friday evening when the Bearcats host Canisius prior to visiting the District on Monday afternoon. In 2015, Binghamton reached the American East Championship final match, but fell to Vermont in the title bout.
The Bearcats return two-time First-Team All-East Region goalkeeper Robert Moewes as a senior in 2016. The two-time reigning America East Goalkeeper of the Year tallied six shutouts last season, including a 1-0 blanking of then-No. 28 Ohio State. The keeper played every minute for Binghamton last season and posted a 1.16 goals-against average and a .786 save percentage.
Senior defender Zach Galluzzo grabbed First Team All-America East honors a year ago and redshirt junior Charlie Novoth is expected to make a strong impact at the midfield/back positions after missing 2015 with injury.
The Colonials and Bearcats will meet for the first time in program history on Monday.
