GORHAM, Maine – Receiving 43 points, the University of Southern Maine Huskies' men's soccer team was voted to finish third in the 2027 Little East Conference Preseason Coaches' Pool. With seven first-place votes and 63 points the UMass Boston Beacons were picked to finish first, while Western Connecticut received a pair of first-place votes and 58 points to place second.  Southern Maine and Eastern Connecticut State University were picked third and fourth respectively with the Warriors receiving 42 points in the poll.
 
Beginning its fourth season under the leadership of head coach Jim Hopkins '00, the Huskies are looking to continue their forward progress as the 2026 regular season approaches. Finishing the 2025 season with a record of 3-1-4 in the Little East Conference ad 5-4-10 overall, Southern Maine earned the right to host its first playoff game in 17 seasons, and made just its fifth overall appearance in the conference playoff tournament.  Under Hopkins' leadership, the Huskies have qualified twice for the LEC tourney in three seasons.  The Huskies' 10 draws during the regular season established a new program record.
 
Hopkins will rely on a mix of veteran leadership and newcomers in his fourth season in Gorham. Among the Huskies' returners are four 2025 All-Little East Conference selections, including 2025 LEC Goalkeeper of the Year and first team all-conference selection Gabe Wagner (Freeport, Maine).  Forward Alex Graver (Freeport, Maine) and midfielder Jack Brady (Jensen Beach, Fla.) also return to the Huskies' lineup as first-team all-conference selection as well as second team defender Liam Conneely (Weymouth, Mass.). 
 
Logging nearly 1370 minutes, Wagner was second in the LEC in goals against average at 1.315. Finishing with a 3-4-8 record with two shutouts (both in Little East Conference action), Wagner had a season-high 11 saves against Bowdoin College, and turned back nine shots in a 2-2 draw against No. 16 Bates College.
 
Third in the Little East with eight goals, Graver led the Huskies with 19 points on eight goals and three assists in 2025.  Recording 10 of his 19 points against Little East Conference opponents, Graver had a hat-trick in the Huskies 7-1 win on the road at Plymouth State to lock up Southern Maine's first home playoff appearance in nearly two decades. 
 
A crafty midfielder, Brady finished with three goals and four assist for 10 points in his third season in Gorham.  Playing and starting in 18 games, Brady's game awareness and ability to read opponents defenses helped establish a Southern Maine offense that scored the most goals in a season since 2008. 
 
Now a two-time all-conference selection, Conneely played a critical role in the Huskies defense that allowed just 23 goals (1.21 per game) and had four shutouts. Playing in 14 games and starting 13, Conneely finished with one goal – a thrilling game-tying marker in the 89^th minute in a 1-1 draw with Rivier.  Turning in nine full 90 shifts, Conneely's heads up play accounted for two team saves during the 2025 season.
 
Southern Maine opens its 2026 campaign on the road at Husson University on Tuesday, September 1 (6:30 pm). The Huskies host United State Coast Guard Academy on Friday, September 4 (6:00 pm) in their first home game of the season on Hannaford Field.  USM travels to UMass Dartmouth on Saturday, September 12 (1:00 pm) to open its LEC schedule.   
 
 

2026 Little East Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll (FPV)
1.	UMass Boston	63 points	(7)
2.	Western Connecticut	58 points	(2)
3.	Southern Maine	43 points
4	Eastern Connecticut	42 points
5.	Rhode Island Colleg	38 points
6.	UMass Dartmouth	32 points
7.	Keene State	25 points
8.	VTSU-Castleton	15 points
9.	Plymouth State	8 points