WINTHROP, Mass. – Saint Joseph's College of Maine has been picked third in the 2026 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced by the conference on Sunday.
The University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) was selected as the preseason favorite following a vote of the league's 13 head coaches. The defending GNAC champion Blue Jays received nine first-place votes and 164 points, while Rivier University placed second with three first-place votes and 154 points.
Saint Joseph's collected the remaining first-place vote and 137 points. Led by eighth-year Head Coach Will Pike '11, the Monks are seeking their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2021.
The Monks return four players who earned All-GNAC honors in 2025. Junior Nick Marion (Windham, Maine) and senior Zander Haskell (Scarborough, Maine) are back after receiving First Team accolades.
Marion led Saint Joseph's with nine goals and 24 points last season. Haskell ranked second on the team in both categories, finishing the campaign with eight goals and 16 points.
Senior Diego Robinson (Hinesburg, Vt.) and junior Cole Bishop (Gorham, Maine) also return after earning Second Team All-GNAC honors.
Robinson started all 17 games and anchored the Monks' defense while leading the team with 1,474 minutes played. Bishop recorded six goals, including two game-winners, and ranked second on the team with four assists.
Norwich University (115 points) and Albertus Magnus College (114) complete the top five. Regis College (104), Emmanuel College (99), and Dean College (85) occupy the remaining projected GNAC Tournament positions.
New England College (68), Colby-Sawyer College (52), Elms College (37), Lasell University (33), and Mitchell College (21) complete the preseason poll.
The 2026 GNAC men's soccer season begins Tuesday, September 1, with 12 of the conference's 13 teams in action. Conference play opens Saturday, September 12, with five GNAC contests, including Saint Joseph's hosting Rivier.
The top eight teams in the conference standings qualify for the GNAC Tournament. Quarterfinal competition begins Saturday, October 31, followed by the semifinals on Wednesday, November 4, and the championship game on Saturday, November 7. The GNAC champion receives the conference's automatic berth in the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament.
2026 GNAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll:
| 1 |
Univ. of Saint Joseph (9) – 164 |
| 2 |
Rivier (3) – 154 |
| 3 |
Saint Joseph's (1) – 137 |
| 4 |
Norwich – 115 |
| 5 |
Albertus Magnus – 114 |
| 6 |
Regis – 104 |
| 7 |
Emmanuel – 99 |
| 8 |
Dean – 85 |
| 9 |
New England College – 68 |
| 10 |
Colby-Sawyer – 52 |
| 11 |
Elms – 37 |
| 12 |
Lasell – 33 |
| 13 |
Mitchell – 21 |
