ST. PAUL – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released the 2025 Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll on Tuesday with UW-Superior being predicted to win the conference championship. The poll is voted on by all the head coaches in the conference. Coaches cannot vote for their own team.
Complete poll
| Place |
School |
Points |
| 1 |
UW-Superior (6) |
36 |
| 2 |
Bethany Lutheran (1) |
30 |
| 3 |
Northwestern |
25 |
| 4 |
Crown |
22 |
| 5 |
North Central |
17 |
| 6 |
Minnesota Morris |
12 |
| 7 |
Martin Luther |
5 |
#1 UW-Superior: 36 points
The YellowJackets received 36 points for the top spot on the poll and six first-place votes from its conference competitors.
UW-Superior won its eighth-straight conference tournament title last year and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
Head coach: Joe Mooney | 18th Season |
Top Returners
- Jake Kidd, Sr., F | UMAC Offensive Player of the Year | United Soccer Coaches All-Region IX First-team | 24 goals, 50 points, 1,462 minutes |
- Isaac Becket, Sr., M | UMAC Academic All-Conference | 24 matches, 31 shots, 1,353 minutes |
- Freddy Watson, Sr., F | United Soccer Coaches All-Region IX Fourth-team | CSC Academic All-District | 11 goals, 31 points, 1,538 minutes |
#2 Bethany Lutheran: 30 points
The Vikings received 30 points for second in the poll and the final first-place vote.
Head Coach: Derick Lyngholm | 7th season
Top Returners
- Guilherme Gancho | So., Midfield | 2024 Second-team All-UMAC | 2024 UMAC Newcomer of the Year | 12 goals, 6 assists, 30 points
- Jamie Van Wijland | Jr., Defense | 2024 Second-team All-UMAC | 2 goals, 3 assists, 7 points
- Gijs Van Eldik | Sr., Forward | 2024 Second-team All-UMAC | 6 goals, 2 assists, 14 points
#3 Northwestern: 25 points
The Eagles received 25 points for third in the poll.
Head coach: Greg Wheaton | 26th Season |
Top Returners
- Simeon Friesen, Junior, Midfielder | First-team All-UMAC |NCCAA North Central All-Region Second-team | 3 Goals, 8 Assists, 20 Shots on Goal |
- Curtis Tinjum, Senior, Midfielder | NCCAA Scholar-Athlete |
- Jared Mojardin, Sophomore, Forward | Second-team All-UMAC | 3 Goals, 1 Assist, 63% SOG
#4 Crown: 22 points
The Polars earned 22 points for fourth on this list.
Head coach: Alex Hosler | 2nd Season |
Top Returners
- Leo Roque, Senior, Goalkeeper | 2024 UMAC Honorable Mention | Program Career Record Holder for Shutouts |
- Pedro Silveira, Senior, Center Midfielder | 2024 UMAC Honorable Mention | 2024 Program Leader in Assists
- Ashton Hosler, Senior, Striker | 2023 Second-team All-UMAC| 2024 Program 2nd in Goals Scored
#5 North Central: 17 points
The Rams received 17 points for fifth on the poll.
Head coach: Keith Bleyer | 2nd Season
Top Returners
- Ricardo Vera Martinez, Sr., M | 2024 All-UMAC Honorable Mention | 2024 NCCAA DII North Region First-team | Team-high 7 assists in 2024 (started all 21 games)
- Ulrich Mvogo, Sr., F | Team Captain | 5 goals and 1 assist in 2024
- Diego Zavala Varela, Gr., D | 4 goals and 1 assist in 2024 (started all 21 games)
- Alex Chacich, Sr., F | 3 goals and 2 assists in 2024
- Gerald Nolasco, Jr., D | Team Captain | Started 18 games in 2024
#6 Minnesota Morris: 12 points
The Cougars earned 12 points for the sixth spot.
Head coach: Blake Ordell | 2nd season
Top Returners
- Aaron (AJ) Mackall, Senior, Forward| Second-team All-UMAC|Leading goal scorer at UM Morris
- Nick Isensee, Senior, GK| Second-team All-UMAC| Broke UM Morris save record
- Cade Simonson, Junior, Center Back (Def.)| All-Conference Honorable Mention
#7 Martin Luther: 5 points
Head coach: Nick Schmoller | 4th season |
Top Returners
- Stephen Wietzke, Senior, D| UMAC Honorable Mention in 2024
- Josh Krenke, Sophomore, M/F | Led MLC in goals (5) and points (11) in 2024 as a freshman
- Abe Schlomer, Sophomore, F | second on team in goals (3) and points (6) in 2024 as a freshman
The 2025 men’s soccer regular season opens on Friday, August 29. The top four teams in the standings at the close of the regular season will compete in the UMAC Tournament, with the semifinals scheduled for Wednesday, November 5 and the championship game slated for Saturday, November 8. The tournament champion will receive the UMAC’s automatic qualifying bid to the 2025 NCAA DIII Men’s Soccer Championship to compete in the national tournament.