GORHAM, Maine –  Capturing its third consecutive Little East Conference regular season and tournament championship in 2024 (2022, 2023, 2024), the University of Southern Maine Huskies' women's soccer team has again been picked to finish atop the LEC in the 2025 Little East Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. The top three teams are separated by a total of four points in the highly competitive Little East.
 
The Huskies received five first-place votes and earned 59 points, and were closely followed by UMass Boston with 56 points and a pair of first-place votes.  Western Connecticut earned 55 points and two first place votes to round out the top three. 
 
Returning to Hannaford Field last week for preseason, the Huskies' begin their 2025 campaign under second-year head coach Martyn Keen. Keen and the Huskies face Rivier University in their season and home-opener on Friday, August 29 (7:00 pm), and then take on UMaine Fort Kent on Wednesday, September 3 (4:00 pm) before embarking on a six-game road schedule.
 
Graduating a significant senior class last year, the Huskies return four All-Little East Conference performers from 2024, seniors Cierra Hill (Pembroke, N.H./Pembroke Academy) and Devan Sherry (Gorham, Maine/Waynflete) and sophomores Meghan Przybilla (St. Anthony, Minn./St. Anthony Village) and Makyla Magid (Golden, Colo./Lakewood), as well as senior captain Riley Reitchel (Palermo, Maine/Erskine Academy) – a 2023 United Soccer Coaches All-District and All-LEC forward. Reitchel was ineligible for awards last season playing in two few games due to injury.
 
In addition to Hill and Reitchel, Southern Maine will also rely on senior captains Bridgette Toland (Jamestown, R.I./North Kingstown) and Britney Hill (Pembroke, NH/Pembroke Academy) to guide a 2025 team that includes 14 first-year players.
 
Earning third team all-conference honors for the third time in her career, Hill has become a fixture in the midfield. Scoring four goals this season, Hill played a critical role in bridging the Huskies' offense and defense throughout the 2024 season.  Hill scored the Huskies' game-winning goal in a 3-2 road win at Eastern Connecticut State, and had two goals in the 2024 Little East Conference tournament.  
 
In her first season with Southern Maine, Sherry earned all-conference honors as a back. An integral part of the Huskies' backline that recorded 10 shutouts, Sherry contributed a pair of assists. Both of Sherry's assists came in Little East Conference play, including a 3-2 win at Eastern Connecticut, and a 6-0 win over UMass Dartmouth. She played a trio of full 90 shifts, including an 0-0 draw with nationally-ranked Williams College.
 
Przybilla earned all-conference honors after an outstanding rookie season. Named the LEC Rookie of the Week once during the 2024 season, Przybilla had five goals and seven assists.  Featuring in each of the Huskies' 21 games, Przybilla earned four starts, including the starting nod in the Huskies' 3-0 win over VTSU-Castleton in the Little East Conference semifinal. Four of Przybilla's five goals came against Little East Conference opponents, including the 1-0 game-winner on the road at Rhode Island College. She finished tied for second on the team with assists (7).
 
Another rookie earning all-conference honors in 2024, Magid featured in the midfield for the Huskies playing in 21 games with a pair of starts.  Earning LEC Rookie of the Week honors once during the 2024 season, Magid had six goals and seven assists. A talented playmaker, Magid assisted on the Huskies' game-winning goal in their 2-0 win against VTSU-Castleton in the LEC semifinals. In a 7-1 conference win over Keene State, Magid had four assists tying a 24-year-old single-game record for assists in a game.  The record is shared by Katie Blanchard '99 (vs. UMass Boston 9-26-98) and Ali Hathaway '00 (vs. Rhode Island College 9-16-00), and now Magid (vs. Keene State 10-19-24).

B. Hill played in 21 games and started 14 as one of the Huskies' two center backs in 2024, playing a critical role in Southern Maine's 10 shutouts.  Putting in five full-90 shifts, Hill also contributed to the Huskies offense scoring one goal and adding an assist.  Hill recorded her first point of 2024 in a 6-0 win over Little East opponent UMass Dartmouth. Hill recorded her first career goal, knocking in the game-winner in the Huskies' 2-0 victory over VTSU-Castleton in the semifinals of the 2024 conference tournament. 
 
Scoring two goals and adding three assists, Toland finished 2024 with seven points. All seven of Tolland's points came in Little East fixtures, including a penalty conversion in a 3-0 win over VTSU-Castleton in the 22^nd minute. Toland earned two of her assists in a 7-1 win over Keene State. 
 
Despite missing more than half the season, Reitchel finished 2024 with nine goals and three assists for 21 points, including three game-winning goals.  A 2023 United Soccer Coaches' All-Region (third team) forward, and second team All-Little East Conference selection, Reitchel has played in 55 career games, notching 22 goals and 16 assists for 60 points. Eight of Reitchel's 22 goals have been game-deciding goals. 
 

2025 Little East Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll (FPV)
1.	Southern Maine	59 points	(5)
2.	UMass Boston	56 points	(2)
3.	Western Connecticut	55 points	(2)
4	Eastern Connecticut	40 points
5.	Rhode Island College	36 points
6.	VTSU-Castleton	29 points
T7.	UMass Dartmouth	17 points
T7.	Plymouth State	17 points
9.	Keene State	16 points

 
 
 
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