2018 ASUN Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Awards (PDF)
LAKEPOINT, GA—Sophomore midfielder
Pablo Jimenez has been named to the 2018 Preseason ASUN All-Conference men's soccer team and the Highlanders as a team, were picked to finish fourth after the league announced its 2018 Preseason Coaches' Poll Wednesday afternoon.
Coming off another successful season in the Division I era, NJIT registered eight wins in 2017, marking the second-highest win total, since competing as an NCAA Division I program, under the leadership of
Fernando Barboto in his second season at the helm.
The Highlanders combined for 25 points and one first-place vote.
In addition to earning a spot on the All-Conference team, Jimenez, from Barcelona, Spain, was voted ASUN Preseason Fan-Vote Player of the Year with 342 votes.
An All-ASUN freshman team honoree in 2017, Jimenez, appeared in every match (18) as a freshman last season, including eight starts. He ranked first on the team and in ASUN Conference in assists with seven, tying the NJIT Division I single season record for assists in a season. Jimenez ranked second on the team in points with 13.
In the 2017 ASUN Quarterfinals against Lipscomb, (T, 3-3; 2OT | Lipscomb advanced on PKs, 3-0), Jimenez, scored two goals and added an assist for five points which ranks tied for second in points in a match.
He tallied his first career assist against St. Francis Brooklyn on September 9 and first career goal against Saint Francis U on October 3.
Lipscomb, the 2017 ASUN Conference Tournament champions, were chosen as the preseason favorite to win the league in 2018 with 42 points and four first-place votes.
FGCU was selected to finish second with 41 points and one first-place vote.
Jacksonville and NJIT each picked up one first-place vote while the Dolphins were picked third with 28 points followed by the Highlanders with 25 points.
Stetson, the 2017 ASUN Conference regular season champion, was selected fifth with 23 points while newcomer Liberty was picked sixth with 22 points as North Florida rounded out the poll seventh with 15 points.
NJIT opens its 2018 campaign with consecutive home matches against Sacred Heart on August 24 and Navy on August 27. The Highlanders defeated both Sacred Heart and Navy last season, 1-0.
