Herkimer Men’s Soccer Ranked No. 1 in NJCAA Preseason
HERKIMER, NY – For the third consecutive season, the Herkimer Generals men’s soccer program will go into a season ranked No. 1, given that distinction in a DIII poll by the NJCAA on Tuesday (8/26).
Leading the team in his 17th season as head coach will be Pepe Aragon. Aragon, who is only three wins away from 300 (297-27-14), is coming off a 17-1 record in 2013 capturing the program’s 10th overall national championship and third in the last three seasons. It’s the second time the program has accomplished the feat, doing it when Perry Nizzi was leading the Generals in 1994, 1995 and 1996.
Aragon was unable to make it four consecutive national championship in his first year as head coach in 1997, finishing in second place in the national tournament, but will look to change that this fall. “I am very excited about the 2014 season as we play in proud honor of our captain Peter McAvoy,” said Aragon. “Not only will we be playing for Pete, but our past two senior classes who played with him will do as well!”
McAvoy died in his dorm room last April (2014) as a result of acute viral myocarditis. He helped Herkimer to consecutive championships in 2012 and 2013. Ironically, McAvoy wore jersey #4 his two years at Herkimer, making a fourth consecutive championship more dramatic than the first attempt in 1997.