TOWSON, Md. — The Catholic men's soccer team has been picked to win its third consecutive Landmark Conference championship in the Landmark men's soccer preseason poll, it was announced today. The Cardinals were a unanimous pick to win the conference, receiving all nine first place votes from the opposing Landmark coaches. 

The Cardinals finished last season 10-6-5 while posting a 5-0-4 record in conference play to extend their Landmark unbeaten streak to 30 games. Connor Keenan's squad earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament after a thrilling 2-1 win over top-seeded Juniata in the Landmark Conference championship to capture the program's seventh title and third in the past four seasons. Catholic fell in its opening contest in the NCAA Tournament to Ohio Wesleyan, 2-1.

Keenan returns for his second season at the helm for Catholic after capturing a conference title in his first season as head coach of the program. Keenan coached six All-Landmark players, three USC All-Region selections and one USC All-American in his opening season.

The Cardinals return their ninth All-American in DIII program history from a season ago in Holden Woodings who was also the Landmark Offensive Player of the Year in his first season with the program. Woodings led the conference with 15 goals last season, tying the third-most in a single-season in DIII program history, while also providing two assists to lead the team in points with 32. Other key returners for the team include Corey Magro and Ben Zimmer who each notched two goals and two assists last season, including Magro's game winning goal with just over two minutes left in the conference championship match. 

Owen Allegro returns in goal for the Cardinals after posting a 10-4-5 record in net last season. Allegro, a two-time All-Landmark Second Team selection, enters the season fourth in DIII program history in wins (22) and GAA (1.12) after making 42 saves and contributing to seven shutouts in his sophomore season. 

Catholic welcomes in two transfers to this season's team in Donik Elshani (Shepherd) and Ellington Andrews (UNC Wilmington), who are both expected to make a key impact this season. Elshani was named to the 2024 All-PSAC East team after tallying three goals and three assists. 

The Cardinals topped the poll with 81 points, followed by Scranton, Juniata, Moravian and Lycoming rounding out the top five. Scranton received the other possible first place vote.

The season kicks off for Catholic on Friday, August 29 when they hit the road to take on Shenandoah at 7 pm before the home-opener on Tuesday, September 2 against St. Mary's (Md.). 

 

Team	2024 Record	Points (1st Place Votes)
1. Catholic	10-6-5 (5-0-4 LC)	81 (9)
2. Scranton	8-5-6 (5-2-2 LC)	73 (1)
3. Juniata	13-3-6 (7-0-2 LC)	61
4. Moravian	9-5-5 (5-1-3 LC)	54
5. Lycoming	10-5-5 (4-3-2 LC)	48
6. Elizabethtown	7-9-3 (4-4-1 LC)	41
7. Drew	7-9-3 (1-7-1 LC)	38
8. Susquehanna	8-7-3 (3-6 LC)	23
9. Goucher	7-8-3 (2-6-1 LC)	21
10. Wilkes	4-15-1 (1-8 LC)	10