The America East Conference released its preseason coaches' poll this week, and the UMass Lowell men's soccer team found itself slotted sixth among the league's ten programs, accumulating 19 points. While the ranking places the River Hawks behind the traditional powerhouses, the modest point total reflects a belief in the squad's potential to climb the standings as the season unfolds.
Preseason Landscape
Bryant Bulldogs topped the poll with 47 points and six first‑place votes, signaling that the Bulldogs are viewed as the team to beat. Vermont followed closely with 44 points, securing second position, while New Hampshire claimed third with 34 points. UAlbany and UMBC rounded out the top five with 33 and 27 points respectively, leaving the River Hawks just ahead of the latter in the rankings.
Looking Ahead
UMass Lowell's coaching staff remains focused on translating the poll's optimism into on‑field performance. The team will open its 2025 campaign on August 20 against the University of the Incarnate Word, a matchup that could set the tone for the River Hawks' season. With a solid recruiting class and a core group of returning starters, the squad hopes to exceed the modest expectations set by the coaches' poll.
Beyond the season opener, the River Hawks will navigate a schedule that includes several home games at the Tsongas Center, where the fan base has grown increasingly vocal. The coaching staff emphasizes defensive solidity and a more aggressive attacking philosophy as key pillars for a push toward the upper half of the America East table.