Preseason Rankings and Honors
The University at Albany men's soccer program entered the 2026 campaign with a clear signal of ambition, landing fourth in the America East Preseason Coaches' Poll and collecting 33 points.
Only a handful of programs earned more recognition, with Bryant University pacing the poll at 47 points and six first‑place votes, followed by Vermont at 44, while New Hampshire narrowly edged the Great Danes with 34 points.
The conference’s preseason all‑conference team featured a standout trio from Albany: senior midfielder Ivar Gissurarson, sophomore midfielder Alexander Clive and junior defender Rodrigo Hermelo, marking the second‑highest total of selections among the league’s eight schools.
Key Players to Watch
Hailing from Reykjavik, Iceland, Ivar Gissurarson anchored the midfield with six goals and 14 points, having started 16 of 17 matches and logged 20 shots on target, including two assists.
Alexander Clive, also a Reykjavik native, appeared in every contest, starting 13 times and contributing three goals and three assists for a nine‑point tally.
Rodrigo Hermelo, a junior from Guadalajara, Spain, helped shape a defensive unit that kept 11 starts and added two goals and three assists.
The Great Danes will open the season with a road test at Michigan State on August 20 before hosting Fairleigh Dickinson University on August 27, after which they will transition into America East competition in late September following a ten‑game non‑conference slate.
With Bryant leading the preseason expectations, Albany’s coaching staff and players are focused on translating early poll momentum into results on the field, aiming to climb the standings as conference play unfolds.