Hall of Fame
The Pleasant Valley, New York native played at Western New England during one of the heights of Golden Bear Men's Soccer. During Maples' tenure at WNE, the Golden Bears advanced to four consecutive NCAA tournaments and won three conference titles, while boasting a top-notch defense that Maples helped anchor during his three years as a consistent starter in the WNE lineup.
Maples would begin his playing career as a Golden Bear in 2005, when he played seven games for the team as a first-year defender. That year, the team went 21-3 (.875), won two NCAA Tournament games, and got to the NCAA Round of 16 for the first time in program history. In 2006, the defender would play in 23 of the team's 24 games. Maples tallied five goals and five assists to end the season with 15 points. In the GNAC Championship Game, he assisted on the game-tying goal and then had a shot on goal, which ultimately led to the game-winning goal. The 2006 squad repeated the previous year's feat by winning two more NCAA Tournament matches.
During his junior campaign, Maples made the switch to midfield, but still had a hand in a strong Golden Bear defense that recorded 11 shutouts, including all three TCCC Tournament games. He would record two goals and an assist to finish with five points for the season. The team went 15-6-2 during that year and won the TCCC Championship in their first year in the conference. Maples played in 22 of 23 contests. The team advanced to the NCAA Tournament and secured the fifth tournament win during Maples' tenure.
As a senior, Maples and the team only lost one game, going 16-1-6 overall, with Maples playing in 21 games and recording five assists. Maples resumed his role in the midfield while still making his presence felt on defense. The team would win the TCCC Championship for a second consecutive year, allowing only one goal in the TCCC tournament to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Maples was seen as one of the top players in the conference, region, and country during his senior year. Maples earned All-TCCC First Team recognition, National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) New England Division III First Team recognition, a spot on the New England Intercollegiate Soccer League (NEILSL) Division III Senior All-Star Game, and was named part of the NSCAA Division III All-America Second Team, the second WNE Men's Soccer All-American in recorded history. Maples ended his career with seven goals, eleven assists, and 25 total points for the Golden Bears.
