Marlborough, Mass.- The NEWMAC men's soccer coaches have placed Salve Regina University fourth in the 2025 preseason conference poll. Last year the team made their first ever NEWMAC finals appearance against the No.1 ranked Babson College Beavers. 

Babson lands in the top spot in the 2025 NEWMAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll, collecting seven first-place votes. Veteran head coach Jon Anderson returns, along with 22 players from a team that went unbeaten en route to capturing the NEWMAC regular season and tournament championships. The Beavers reached the NCAA quarterfinals and finished 17-1-7 in 2024. All-Region performer Liam Goldstein and All-NEWMAC performer Joao Araujo return to anchor the defense, while Alexander Yablonovskiy is Babson's top returning scorer, netting six goals and three assists for 15 points last season.

Coming in at the two-spot is the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, which is coached by Chris Parsons. The Bears return several key contributors, including Aki Freeman, who was the team leader in points (22), goals (9), and assists in 2024, earning All-Conference and All-Region honors for his efforts. Goalkeeper Jack Putnam also returns after posting five shutouts last season.

MIT, coached by Ken Bovell, lands in the third spot, notching a first-place vote. The Engineers return NEWMAC Rookie of the Year, Shikhar Motupally, along with Dilin Meloni, who was a NEWMAC First Team All-Conference performer last season.  Motupally finished second in the conference in goals scored (9), assists (7), and points (25).

Salve Regina University enters the poll in the fourth spot. Bill Lawler returns for the Seahawks after earning NEWMAC Coaching Staff of the Year honors last season, leading his squad to a 4-1-3 conference record. Second team All-Conference goalkeeper Adonis Santiago returns after posting a 1.116 goals against average in 2024.
 
WPI has nabbed the fifth spot and the remaining first-place vote. They are led by head coach Brian Kelley and will look to first-team All-Conference honoree Evan Haas to shore up their defense.
 
Springfield lands in the sixth spot. The Pride are coached by Tommy Crabill, who led Springfield to its first NEWMAC Semifinal since 2021. Connor Policarpio, an All-Region and All-Conference Second Team selection, will return after netting eight goals a season ago.
 
Landing in the seventh slot is Wheaton College, which is led by head coach Bryan Waggoner. Goalkeeper Michael O'Gara will return for the Lyons after posting a .694 goals against average and seven shutouts, both good for second in the league.  
 
Emerson College fills out the eighth spot. The Lions are coached by third-year head coach Liam McKersie. Goalkeeper Beckett Hobbs will return after averaging 4.23 saves per game, good for third in the league.
 
Clark University rounds out the poll in ninth place. The scarlet and white are set to open the Samuel Matteson era this year and bring back 19 returners from last year's squad, while five first-years enter the fold for the Cougars. Senior Ben Siegel is back after leading the team with six goals and a pair of assists last year.
 
Men's soccer conference play will begin on Saturday, September 20.
 
The NEWMAC Championship will start with quarterfinals on November 4, followed by semifinals on November 6. The Champion will be crowned on Saturday, November 8.
 
2025 NEWMAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Babson (7) 
2. Coast Guard
3. MIT (1)
4. Salve Regina
5. WPI (1)
6. Springfield
7. Wheaton
8. Emerson
9. Clark 

About the NEWMAC
The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, United States Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), and United States Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.