Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference: Men’s and Women’s Soccer 2025 Season Preview

Photo: Joe D’Aloisio/Iona Athletics

Canisius

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: T-9th in the MAAC (2-3-3, 9 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Canisius at VMI – 8/21
  • Canisius at Virginia Tech – 8/24
  • Duquesne at Canisius – 8/30
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Mason Petrucci – Junior – Forward
    • Led Canisius with 5 assists in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 3rd in the MAAC (8-2-2, 26 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Buffalo at Canisius – 8/14
  • Canisius at Syracuse – 8/21
  • Colorado College at Canisius – 8/24
  • Canisius at Robert Morris – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Jessica Whitaker – Junior – Midfielder
    • 2nd on Canisius with 7 assists in 2024

Fairfield

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: T-9th in the MAAC (2-3-3, 9 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Fairfield at Army West Point – 8/21
  • Monmouth at Fairfield – 8/25
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • William Pierce – Senior – Midfielder
    • Named to All-MAAC First Team in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 1st in the MAAC (10-1-1, 31 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Fairfield at Holy Cross – 8/14
  • Fairfield at Rutgers – 8/17
  • Fairfield at Boston University – 8/21
  • Vermont at Fairfield – 8/24
  • Harvard at Fairfield – 8/29
  • FDU at Fairfield – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Maddie Theriault – Senior – Forward
    • MAAC Golden Boot winner with 13 goals in 2024

Iona

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: T-1st in the MAAC (6-1-1, 19 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Iona at Rhode Island – 8/21
  • Iona at Villanova – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Fernando Schmelz – Sophomore – Goalkeeper
    • Named to All-MAAC Second Team in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 7th in the MAAC (4-6-2, 14 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Iona at Temple – 8/14
  • Le Moyne at Iona – 8/17
  • Iona at Seton Hall – 8/21
  • Iona at UMBC – 8/24
  • Wagner at Iona – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Marissa Graziano – Junior – Midfielder
    • Named to All-MAAC Second Team in 2024

Manhattan

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: T-5th in the MAAC (3-3-2, 11 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Manhattan at WVU – 8/21
  • NJCU at Manhattan – 8/26
  • Manhattan at UConn – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Ziv Dahan – Junior – Forward
    • Named to All-MAAC First Team in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 5th in the MAAC (5-4-3, 18 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • LIU at Manhattan – 8/15
  • Army at Manhattan – 8/17
  • Manhattan at Delaware State – 8/19
  • CCSU at Manhattan – 8/21
  • Manhattan at Wagner – 8/24
  • Fordham at Manhattan – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Mayah Wheeler – Senior – Defender
    • Named to All-MAAC Third Team in 2024

Marist

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: T-5th in the MAAC (3-3-2, 11 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Marist at Stony Brook – 8/21
  • Army at Marist – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Chris Verheul – Sophomore – Forward/Midfielder
    • Named to All-MAAC First Team in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 11th in the MAAC (3-7-2, 11 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Marist at Fordham – 8/15
  • Marist at Colgate – 8/21
  • NJIT at Marist – 8/24
  • Binghampton at Marist – 8/28
  • Marist at Holy Cross – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Olivia Lindsay – Senior – Midfielder
    • Was 2nd on the team with 1513 minutes played in 2024

Merrimack

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: T-11th in the MAAC (2-4-2, 8 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Saint Joseph’s University at Merrimack – 8/21
  • College of the Holy Cross at Merrimack – 8/24
  • Stonehill College at Merrimack – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Nelton Semedo – Graduate Student – Goalkeeper
    • Named to All-MAAC Third Team in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 6th in the MAAC (5-5-2, 17 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • University of Vermont at Merrimack – 8/14
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell at Merrimack – 8/17
  • Merrimack at Dartmouth – 8/22
  • University of Maine at Merrimack – 8/28
  • Merrimack at Bryant University – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Caleigh Christensen – Senior – Defender
    • Started every game in 2024

Mount St. Mary’s 

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: T-5th in the MAAC (3-3-2, 11 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Mount St. Mary’s at Navy- 8/21
  • Mount St. Mary’s at Binghampton – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Graham Dougald – Senior – Midfielder
    • Named to All-MAAC Third Team in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 9th in the MAAC (3-6-3, 12 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Mount St. Mary’s at Delaware- 8/14
  • Mount St. Mary’s at Towson – 8/17
  • Mount St. Mary’s at Penn – 8/24
  • Shepherd at Mount St. Mary’s – 8/27
  • Delaware State at Mount St. Mary’s – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Nicole Wilson – Senior – Forward/Midfielder
    • Tied with the second-most starts (17) at Mount St. Mary’s in 2024

Niagara

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 13th in the MAAC (0-7-1, 1 point)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Niagara at St. Bonaventure – 8/21
  • Niagara at UMBC – 8/29
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Thomas Brooks – Junior – Midfielder
    • Made 14 starts at Niagara in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 12th in the MAAC (1-7-4, 7 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Niagara at Syracuse – 8/17
  • Niagara at Le Moyne – 8/21
  • Niagara at Mercyhurst – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Caitlyn Grady – Junior – Midfielder
    • Tied with most starts (17) by a Niagara player in 2024 

Quinnipiac

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 4th in the MAAC (4-4-0, 12 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Quinnipiac at Pitt – 8/21
  • Quinnipiac at UMass – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Alex Miller – Senior – Midfielder
    • Led Quinnipiac with 6 assists in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 2nd in the MAAC (10-2-0, 30 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Quinnipiac at Hofstra – 8/17
  • Quinnipiac at Stony Brook – 8/21
  • Syracuse at Quinnipiac – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Madison Alves – Senior – Defender
    • Named to All-MAAC Second Team in 2024

Rider

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: T-1st in the MAAC (6-1-1, 19 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Rider at Villanova – 8/21
  • Lehigh at Rider – 8/25
  • La Salle at Rider – 8/29
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Theo Da Silva – Senior – Midfielder
    • Named to All-MAAC Second Team in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 10th in the MAAC (3-6-3, 12 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Wagner at Rider – 8/18
  • Rider at Seton Hall – 8/24
  • Rider at Saint Joseph’s – 8/28
  • NJIT at Rider – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Tess Ferrie – Sophomore – Forward
    • Led Rider with 7 GCs (4g/3a) in 2024

Sacred Heart

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: T-5th in the MAAC (3-3-2, 11 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Sacred Heart at University of Vermont – 8/21
  • Sacred Heart at Stony Brook – 8/25
  • Yale at Sacred Heart – 8/29
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • David Garcia Gallego – Senior – Midfielder
    • Named to All-MAAC First Team in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 8th in the MAAC (3-5-4, 13 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Vermont at Sacred Heart – 8/17
  • Sacred Heart at UAlbany – 8/21
  • Navy at Sacred Heart – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Shea Kelleher – Junior – Forward
    • Named to All-MAAC Third Team in 2024

Saint Peter’s

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: T-11th in the MAAC (2-4-2, 8 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Saint Peter’s at UMass Lowell – 8/21
  • Saint Peter’s at UMBC – 8/25
  • FDU at Saint Peter’s – 8/30
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Tim Strele – Junior – Forward
    • Led Saint Peter’s with 7 GCs (5g/2a) in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 13th in the MAAC (1-9-2, 5 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Saint Peter’s at Drexel – 8/14
  • Saint Peter’s at Loyola – 8/17
  • Temple at Saint Peter’s – 8/21
  • Saint Peter’s at LIU – 8/24
  • St. Bonaventure at Saint Peter’s – 8/28
  • Saint Peter’s at Le Moyne – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Joana Dias – Junior – Midfielder
    • 2nd on the team with 7 GCs (5g/2a) in 2024

Siena

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 3rd in the MAAC (4-1-3, 15 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Siena at Massachusetts – 8/21
  • Siena at Boston College – 8/25
  • Siena at Portland – 8/29
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Lee Mara – Junior- Midfielder
    • Named to All-MAAC Second Team in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 4th in the MAAC (7-3-2, 23 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Lafayette at Siena – 8/14
  • Siena at North Carolina – 8/17
  • Holy Cross at Siena – 8/21
  • Bryant at Siena – 8/24
  • Le Moyne at Siena – 8/28
  • Siena at New Hampshire – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Catherine Rogers – Sophomore – Midfielder
    • MAAC Rookie of the Year in 2024