Salem State Soccer Coaches Collect Coach Of Year Honors

From Salem State: Salem State University’s Matt Correia, men’s soccer head coach, of Dracut, and Nicolle Wood, head coach for the women’s soccer team, of Hudson, NH, have each been named Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Champion’s Choice Coach of the Year.

About Matt Correia:

Mr. Correia received this honor for leading the men’s soccer team to a perfect conference record and the top seed in the tournament. Salem State finished 7-0 in regular season conference play and 12-5-1 overall and won both the regular and post-season championships to earn an NCAA Tournament bid.

“Being named Coach of the Year in the MASCAC is a great honor. It's a credit to our coaching staff as a whole, but more importantly the players on this team. They did something special this year by finishing in first place, winning the regular season championship, and winning the conference tournament championship,” said Mr. Correia. “It was truly an honor coaching them this season and I thank them for helping me to receive this award.”

Prior to coaching at Salem State, Mr. Correria led Daniel Webster for six seasons as head coach, while compiling an impressive 70-39-7 (.603) record. A native of Dracut, Mr. Correia is a 2010 graduate of University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth where he played four seasons of varsity soccer for the Corsairs while serving as team captain his junior and senior years.

About Nicolle Wood:

Ms. Wood was voted by her peers as the 2017 Champion’s Choice Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year after leading the Vikings to the semi-finals in MASCAC in the MASCAC Tournament. After a disappointing 4-13 2016 campaign, Wood led Salem State to the 10-win plateau (10-8-1) for the first time since 2012, which included a six-game winning streak, as the Vikings finished 4-3 in conference, earning the fourth seed in the MASCAC Tournament and advancing to the semi-finals.

"I am grateful for being recognized as the MASCAC Coach of the Year and for the support of my fellow conference coaches who selected me to win this award. This really is a reflection of the hard work of so many people - my amazing assistant coaches, our athletic training staff who kept everyone ready to compete, and, of course, our players,” said Ms. Wood.

“Our players’ focus, dedication, and commitment to each other is why we were successful. It wasn't about me as a coach; it was about what they showed up willing to give every day. I'm lucky to be surrounded by so many people who make me look good," she added.

Coach Wood has spent the past 11 seasons as the Vikings’ Head Women’s Soccer Coach. Wood served as the top assistant women's soccer coach at Salem State University for a decade prior to taking over the program in 2007. She is a 1995 SSU graduate of the Sports & Movement Science program, having played goalkeeper for the Lady Vikings from 1991 through 1994 and was a member of four Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference championship teams. She is closing in on her 100th win entering the 2018 season, and also serves as the Assistant Athletic Director/Coordinator for Student-Athlete Affairs in the department.

Image Via Salem State