2026 NAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll & Players to Watch

8/26/2026 12:00:00 PM

WATERVILLE, Maine – The 2026 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll results have been tabulated, and Husson University has been selected to claim the North Atlantic Conference title this season according to a vote of NAC men’s soccer coaches.

The Eagles secured five first-place votes and 61 points overall as they head into the 2026 campaign. Thomas College claimed the final three first-place votes and earned second-place with 59 points overall, while Maine Maritime Academy finished third with 46 points. Rounding out the top five vote getters are UMaine-Farmington (42 points) and Lesley University (30 points), finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

Vermont State University Johnson notched 24 points for a sixth-place finish followed by UMaine-Presque Isle in seventh with 16 points and Vermont State University Lyndon in eighth with 10 points to complete the poll.

Husson has claimed four total NAC championships, with their most recent title coming during the 2022 season. Under the leadership of head coach Carlos Bermudez and his staff, the Eagles return five 2025 All-NAC honorees including NAC First Team honorees Miguel Diaz Alvarez and Cesar Soucre, and NAC Third Team honorees Chadi Hamadi, Adne Glotheim, and Liam Mason.

Six NAC men's soccer teams open the 2026 season on Tuesday, September 1. Non-conference play will continue through the first week with Thomas and UMaine-Farmington kicking-off NAC conference play on Friday, September 11th.

Click on each team below to view their capsules and Players to Watch

2026 NAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Institution – Points (First Place Votes)

Head Coach:	Carlos Bermudez
Head Coach's Overall Coaching Record (Record/Seasons)	15-15-8/3rd Season
Head Coach's Record at School: (Record/Seasons)	15-15-8/3rd Season
Last Season's Record (Overall/Conference):	7-9-4 overall / 7-1-1 NAC
No. of Starters Returning:	5
No. of Starters Lost:	6
No. of Returning Roster Players from 2024 team:	22
Top Returning Players (Name/Position/Year):	Cesar Soucre / Midfielder / Sophomore Miguel Diaz Alvarez / Midfielder / Sophomore Chadi Hamadi / Midfielder / Sophomore Alejandro Castellanos / Defender / Senior
Top Newcomers (Name/Position/Year):	Carlos Davila / Defender / Freshman Santiago Jimenez / Forward / Freshman Kabir D'Mello / Forward / Freshman

Head Coach:	Kyle Fletcher
Head Coach's Overall Coaching Record (Record/Seasons)	38-25-14 (5 seasons)
Head Coach's Record at School: (Record/Seasons)	38-25-14 (5 seasons)
Last Season's Record (Overall/Conference):	12-8-1 overall / 8-0-1 NAC
No. of Starters Returning:	8
No. of Starters Lost:	3
No. of Returning Roster Players from 2024 team:	16
Top Returning Players (Name/Position/Year):	Jamie Fischer / Goalkeeper / Junior David Ivarsson / Forward / Senior Tre Burgess / Defense / Senior Brynjar Johansson / Defense / Junior Jeremiah Gomez / Midfield / Senior
Top Newcomers (Name/Position/Year):	Gustav Franzen / Sophomore Jonatan Holsteinsson / Sophomore

Head Coach:	Billy Shannon
Head Coach's Overall Coaching Record (Record/Seasons)	66-77-17/10 Seasons
Head Coach's Record at School: (Record/Seasons)	66-77-17/10 Seasons
Last Season's Record (Overall/Conference):	6-11-1overall / 5-5 NAC
No. of Starters Returning:	6
No. of Starters Lost:	5
No. of Returning Roster Players from 2024 team:	17
Top Returning Players (Name/Position/Year):	Reagan Moynihan / Goalkeeper / Senior Hunter Crea / Midfielder / Senior Aiden Burr / Midfielder / Senior James Baur / Forward / Senior Garrison Fisher / Striker / Junior
Top Newcomers (Name/Position/Year):	N/A

Head Coach:	Blake Hart
Head Coach's Overall Coaching Record (Record/Seasons)	50-41-14/7th Season
Head Coach's Record at School: (Record/Seasons)	50-41-14/7th Season
Last Season's Record (Overall/Conference):	5-9-3 overall / 4-3-2 NAC
No. of Starters Returning:	7
No. of Starters Lost:	4
No. of Returning Roster Players from 2024 team:	20
Top Returning Players (Name/Position/Year):	Owen Spera / Forward / Sophomore JJ Greenlaw / Midfield / Junior Jack Luciano / Forward / Junior Garrett Gendreau / Midfield / Sophomore
Top Newcomers (Name/Position/Year):	Star Boma / Midfield / Junior Aubrey King / Defender / Sophomore

Head Coach:	Andre Martins
Head Coach's Overall Coaching Record (Record/Seasons)	3-11-4
Head Coach's Record at School: (Record/Seasons)	3-11-4
Last Season's Record (Overall/Conference):	3-11-4 overall / 2-4-3 NAC
No. of Starters Returning:	8
No. of Starters Lost:	3
No. of Returning Roster Players from 2024 team:	15
Top Returning Players (Name/Position/Year):	Adrian Esparragoza / CM / Graduate Student Caleb Race / CM / Senior Miguel Vasconcelos / Forward / Senior
Top Newcomers (Name/Position/Year):	Lukas Halper / Forward / Sophomore

Head Coach:	Alec Brigante
Head Coach's Overall Coaching Record (Record/Seasons)	-
Head Coach's Record at School: (Record/Seasons)	-
Last Season's Record (Overall/Conference):	4-9-1 overall / 2-6-1 NAC
No. of Starters Returning:	6
No. of Starters Lost:	5
No. of Returning Roster Players from 2024 team:	11
Top Returning Players (Name/Position/Year):	Josiah Phillips / Forward / Junior Owen Marchessault / Midfield / Senior Alex Carter / Defense / Sophomore
Top Newcomers (Name/Position/Year):	Zane Cooper / Goalkeeper / First-Year

Head Coach:	John A Gonzalez
Head Coach's Overall Coaching Record (Record/Seasons)	N/A
Head Coach's Record at School: (Record/Seasons)	N/A
Last Season's Record (Overall/Conference):	4-10-1 overall / 2-6-1 NAC
No. of Starters Returning:	7
No. of Starters Lost:	4
No. of Returning Roster Players from 2024 team:	13
Top Returning Players (Name/Position/Year):	Jovain Barrett / CB / Senior Isaac Doore / CM / Senior Samuel Bay / CB / Junior
Top Newcomers (Name/Position/Year):	Ayden Burnett / CM / First-Year Zachary Gordon / W / First-Year David Sanyaolu / CB / First-Year

Institution	VTSU Lyndon
Head Coach:	Zach Blaser
Head Coach's Overall Coaching Record (Record/Seasons)	2-27-1 / 2 seasons
Head Coach's Record at School: (Record/Seasons)	2-27-1 / 2 seasons
Last Season's Record (Overall/Conference):	1-15 overall / 0-9 NAC
No. of Starters Returning:	5
No. of Starters Lost:	6
No. of Returning Roster Players from 2024 team:	9
Top Returning Players (Name/Position/Year):	Jason Nofsker / Defense / Junior Carter Johns / Midfield / Sophomore Ethan Cardenas / Midfield / Sophomore
Top Newcomers (Name/Position/Year):	Brooks White / Striker / Sophomore Adrian Placencia / Wing / Freshman Gavin Rummler / Defense / Freshman

2026 NAC Players to Watch

The North Atlantic Conference is pleased to present the 2026 Men's Soccer Preseason Players to Watch list, which includes 16 student-athletes who were selected by their head coaches to represent their respective teams.

Alex Carter | VTSU Johnson | Sophomore | Defender | St. Albans, Vt.
Carter appeared and started in 11 matches during his 2025 rookie campaign. The defender recorded five shots, putting three on goal.
Zane Cooper | First-Year | Goalkeeper | Randolph, Vt.
A Vermont native, first-year Zane Cooper will look to assist the Badgers in the goal this season.
Miguel Dial Alvarez | Sophomore | Forward | Madrid, Spain
A reigning NAC All-Conference First Team selection, Miguel Diaz Alvarez is looking to further break out as a sophomore on this year’s Husson men’s soccer team. Diaz Alvarez led the Eagles and finished third in the NAC last year with 11 goals, while also adding two assists. The left-footed winger converted three out of three penalty kicks in his freshman season, while being named NAC player of the week once and NAC rookie of the week once.
Cesar Soucre | Sophomore | Midfielder | Caracas, Venezuela
A lethal weapon in one of the best midfield units in the NAC, Cesar Soucre is looking to build on a stellar freshman year with the Husson Eagles. Source showcased his ability to both finish and set up goal scoring opportunities for the Eagles, as he finished tied for second on the team with five goals, while adding a team-high five assists, en route to a NAC All-Conference First Team selection.
Caleb Race | Lesley University | Senior | Defender/Midfielder | Wellington, Fla.
Race played in and started all 16 games for the Lynx last season, anchoring the defensive line. The senior captain earned NAC Third Team All-Conference honors and College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District.
Adrian Esparragoza | Graduate Student | Defender/Midfielder | New York, N.Y.
Esparragoza returns to Lesley after earning NAC Second Team All-Conference and CSC Academic All-District honors. The captain played in a career high 18 games during the 2025 season, scored three goals, and dished out an assist.
Jason Nofsker | VTSU Lyndon | Junior | Center Back | Virginia Beach, Va.
Jason returns to anchor the Hornet back line. An Honorable Mention All-Conference selection during his freshman campaign in 2024, Jason has played 28 games over two seasons, making 26 starts. He was a captain a year ago, and as Lyndon’s most experienced player he will be counted upon to provide veteran leadership to this year’s squad.
Brooks White | Sophomore | Forward | Springfield, Ill.
Brooks transfers to Lyndon after spending his freshman campaign at Andrew College. He played in 13 games for the Fighting Tigers, making four starts and notching five goals and four assists. Prior to Andrew, Brooks played three seasons with the FC Birmingham Academy. He will be counted on to bolster the Hornet attack.
James Baur | Senior | Forward | Portland, Maine
Baur played in 17 games with 14 starts as a junior last season. The senior captain finished third on the team with five goals and led the Mariners with three assists. He also tallied two game-winning goals and 13 shots on goal. The Maine native was selected to the NAC All-Conference Third Team and CSC Academic All-District Team.
Hunter Crea | Senior | Midfielder | Brookline, N.H.
Crea is back for his senior campaign after starting in eight games for the Mariners before missing the remainder of the season due to injury. In those eight games, he tallied four shots and three shots on goal. Crea was named a captain for the 2026 season.
Owen Spera | Sophomore | Forward | Gorham, Maine
Spera returns for his sophomore season after leading the Beavers offensively as a rookie a year ago. Spera was named to the NAC 2nd Team All-Conference after totaling eight goals and two assists for a total of 18 points. Spera's eight goals marked him tied for 7th overall in the NAC.
Garrett Gendreau | Sophomore | Midfielder | Waterville, Maine
Gendreau returns for Farmington after delivering a standout rookie season that saw him score five goals across his 17 games played. Gendreau, a versatile player who provides a steadying presence on both ends of the field, will see a majority of his time as a central midfielder this season for the Beavers.
Isaac Doore | UMaine-Presque Isle | Senior | Midfielder/Forward | Howland, Maine
Doore, from Howland, Maine, returns for his senior season after starting and playing in all 14 games for the Owls during the 2025 season. He recorded nine points with two goals and five assists in addition to 34 shots with 17 on goal for the season. Doore will be an important player for UMPI this season and someone they expect to have a strong impact on the field. His work rate, competitiveness, and ability to contribute on both sides of the ball make him a key part of what UMPI is building this year.
Sam Bay | Junior | Defender | Orrington, Maine
Bay is another player the Owls expect to play an important role for us this season. He brings athleticism, quality, and a strong competitive mentality to the group, and believed to have the ability to make a significant impact throughout NAC play. Bay played and started in 12 games for the Owls last season.
David Ivarsson | Thomas College | Senior | Forward | Reykjavik, Iceland
Forward from Reykjavik, Iceland. Reigning NAC Player of the Year, NCAA Division III Third Team All-Region, NCAA Division III Statistical Leader in Assists Per Game (0.83), all in 2025. Scored 16 goals and added 14 assists last season heading into his senior year. Ivarsson will look to repeat as NAC Player of the Year and lead the Terriers into a playoff position.
Jamie Fischer | Thomas College | Junior | Goalkeeper | Dubendorf, Switzerland
Goalkeeper from Dubendorf, Switzerland, former NAC Rookie of the Year, 2x NAC All-Conference selection, NAC Tournament Most Valuable Player (2024), 6x NAC Defensive Player of the Week heading into his junior season. Will look to be a consistent defensive force for the Terriers.