NO. ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Fresh off both NE10 tournament and regular-season titles, the Southern New Hampshire University men's soccer team was a unanimous choice to capture yet another league crown when the NE10 Preseason Coaches' Poll was unveiled Wednesday.
SNHU gathered all nine possible first-place votes and 81 points to finish ahead of in-state rival Franklin Pierce University, which claimed the remaining first-place vote and 72 points. Adelphi University (65 points) finished in third place, while Southern Connecticut State University (55) edged Bentley University (52) for fourth. American International College (35), Saint Michael's College (35), Saint Anselm College (25), Assumption University (18) and Pace University (12) made up the bottom half of the poll.
Reigning NE10 Coach of the Year Josh Taylor will begin his 11th season as the head coach and is coming off a season in which the team finished 14-2-3, including an unblemished 7-0-2 in the league, as it captured its eighth NE10 tournament title and sixth NE10 Regular-Season Championship. The Penmen advanced to their 24th NCAA postseason, but tied Post University, 1-1, before falling on penalty kicks, 7-6.
The Penmen return nine of their top 12 scorers from 2024, including seven of eight and their top three. In total, 10 of 17 that contributed a point a year ago are back, with 118 of 152 points (78%) returning to the roster. Leading scorer and NE10 All-Conference First Team selection Martin Zapata (Pamplona, Spain) is back for his junior year after racking up 28 points on nine goals and 10 assists, as is fellow First Teamer, senior Philipp Hermann (Bruckmuehl, Germany), who led the team with 10 goals and added a pair of helpers for 22 points. Graduate student and NE10 Third Team pick Martin Fuentes (Pamplona, Spain) rounds out the top three returning scorers after a seven-goal, seven-assist, 21-point campaign. The Penmen will need to replace the NE10 Player, Defensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Year, but return Rookie of the Year Gabriel Castro (León, Spain), who produced 11 points on three goals and five assists in the midfield. Sophomore Alex Pons (Castellón, Spain) is the top returning defender after an NE10 Second Team campaign a year ago.
SNHU opens its 16-match schedule Thursday, Sept. 4 (1 p.m.) when it plays host to St. Thomas Aquinas College at Ouellette Stadium. The Penmen open up with five straight home matches and have nine of them on the schedule. Be sure to check out @snhupenmen social media channels for the drop of the official 2025 schedule poster prior to the season opener.
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2025 NE10 Preseason Men's Soccer Coaches' Poll
1) Southern New Hampshire – 81 (9)
2) Franklin Pierce – 72 (1)
3) Adelphi – 65
4) Southern Connecticut – 55
5) Bentley – 52
T6) American International – 35
T6) Saint Michael's – 35
8) Saint Anselm – 25
9) Assumption – 18
10) Pace – 12
