Newtown, Pa. (Men's Soccer) - The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom coaches have released their preseason poll ahead of the 2026 men's soccer season, and defending conference champion Stevens is the unanimous favorite to keep its run going.
Stevens claimed all eight first-place votes and totaled 64 points to top the preseason poll. The Ducks enter the season looking to extend a streak that has produced five straight MAC Freedom titles, most recently a 1-0 win over Lebanon Valley in last year's championship match.
Lebanon Valley was picked second with 53 points, followed by Misericordia in third with 51 points. Arcadia rounds out the top four with 44 points. DeSales and FDU-Florham tied for fifth at 27 points apiece.
The full preseason order: Stevens (64 points, 8 first-place votes), Lebanon Valley (53), Misericordia (51), Arcadia (44), DeSales and FDU-Florham (tied, 27 each), Delaware Valley (26), King's (18) and Marywood (14).
2026 MAC Freedom Season Preview
Stevens enters the fall as the clear favorite after a fifth straight MAC Freedom title, a 1-0 win over Lebanon Valley sealed by a late Ryan O'Byrne goal in the championship match. The Ducks placed five players on the 2025 All-MAC Freedom teams and bring back a strong core even after losing Defensive Player of the Year and Tournament MVP Ethan Hagen to graduation. First Team sophomore-turned-junior forward Matthew Murillo returns after helping lead the attack, along with Second Team sophomore-turned-junior defender Martin Fields, giving the Ducks a foundation to build around as they chase a sixth straight crown.
Lebanon Valley and Misericordia enter as the closest challengers, separated by just two points in the poll. Lebanon Valley returns Second Team pieces in sophomore-turned-junior forward Gianluca D'Alterio and junior-turned-senior midfielder Nathan Kimball after reaching the championship match, though the Dutchmen will need to replace Offensive Player of the Year Nathan Prex, who departs after leading the conference in scoring. Misericordia brings back Second Team junior-turned-senior forward Shane Macko and junior-turned-senior goalkeeper Santino Jannotte, a strong platform after an 8-7-4 season.
Arcadia rounds out the top four behind 2025 MAC Freedom Rookie of the Year Scott Jordan, a First-Year forward a season ago who returns as a sophomore after helping the Knights to a 7-5-7 record.
Further down the poll, DeSales, FDU-Florham, Delaware Valley, King's and Marywood could be jockeying for the fifth spot and a shot at the new play-in game. FDU-Florham returns First Team senior forward Diego Trujillo's production to replace, but brings back Second Team junior-turned-senior midfielder Genti Dauti after an 11-3-5 season that was among the best in the league. Delaware Valley, which won the 2025 MAC Freedom Staff of the Year award, returns Second Team junior-turned-senior midfielder Roy Hevener. With the new format putting extra weight on the four and five seeds, every result down the stretch could carry postseason implications for this group.
2025 MAC Freedom Championship Notes
Stevens entered the 2025 MAC Freedom Tournament as the No. 1 seed after a 4-1-2 run through conference play and carried that momentum to a fifth-straight conference title, edging Lebanon Valley 1-0 in the championship match. Ryan O'Byrne scored the game's lone goal with just under seven minutes remaining in regulation, and senior defender Ethan Hagen was named MAC Freedom Tournament MVP after anchoring the Ducks' defense throughout the postseason. Stevens advanced to the title game with a 3-0 win over Misericordia in the semifinals, while Lebanon Valley topped FDU-Florham to reach the final. With the win, Stevens earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
2026 Season Schedule
- Season opener: September 1, 2026
- Conference play begins: October 3, 2026
- Postseason format: The top five teams in the MAC Freedom standings will qualify for the conference tournament
- Play-in game (No. 4 vs. No. 5): November 3, 2026
- Semifinals: November 5, 2026
- Championship: November 7, 2026