EDISON, NJ — The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference has announced its Preseason All-MAAC selections. A trio from the Manhattan Jaspers Men's Soccer program in Ziv Dahan, Henry Hamilton, and Nassim Akki were chosen, per release on Wednesday morning. In the Preseason Coaches' Poll, Manhattan was selected to finish seventh in the MAAC, with one first place vote by the conference's coaches.
"We are excited to see Ziv, Henry, and Nassim recognized in the MAAC preseason team." said Head Coach Tom Giovatto.
Coming off a stellar campaign that featured a spot on the All-MAAC First Team, Dahan found the back of the net a team high seven times with a pair coming in conference play against Quinnipiac. Throughout his first two years in Riverdale, the Israeli product has seen the pitch 30 times heading into his junior season.
"Senior, experienced leadership will play a critical role in our success this year, and these three boys exemplify our team values. We hope to help them exceed their playing expectations while working with them in moving the program forward."
After being selected to the All-MAAC Second Team for a third straight season in as many years donning the Green and White, Hamilton logged his third straight Preseason All-MAAC selection after posting a pair of assists in 2024 against Canisius and Quinnipiac.
In 2023, the Wellington, New Zealand native logged a combined 13 goals in his first two seasons in Riverdale in 2022 and 2023, leading his teams with six and seven braces, respectively.
For Akki, the first player in program history to be Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, earned his third straight Preseason All-MAAC selection, after another stellar campaign quarterbacking the backline for the Jaspers in 2024.
The Girondins de Bordeaux alum earned a spot on the All-MAAC Second Team last season after playing in 13 matches, where he started in 12, and contributed to four Jasper clean sheets on the year.
Manhattan opens the 2025 season against its fourth ranked opponent in two years, with a trip to #16 West Virginia to take on the Mountaineers on Thursday, August 21.
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