Marlborough, MASS.- Defending NEWMAC Champions MIT amassed 11 first-place votes, securing the top spot in the 2025 NEWMAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll. Head coach Martin Desmarais returns for his 18^th season leading the MIT women's soccer team. The Engineers won their eighth NEWMAC Championship last season and will return NEWMAC Player of the Year Natalie Barnouw, as well as Tournament Most Outstanding Player Sean Luk. The Engineers also return all-conference players, Madeline Seebeck and Leena Mehendale. Barnouw led the NEWMAC in both goals (13) and points (30) last season, while Luk led with eight assists.
 
Babson College, coached by Nellie Pineault, lands in the second spot, collecting the remaining first-place vote. The Beavers bring back 18 players from a squad that went 5-3-3 in conference play and reached the NEWMAC semifinals. Jadyn Mapura returns for the Beavers, along with Caroline Sutherland and junior midfielder Priscilla-Rose Men-Martin, all of whom earned All-NEWMAC second team honors last fall.
 
Coming in at the third spot is Springfield College, which went 6-3-2 in NEWMAC play last season. First-year head coach Kursten Shade will look to All-Region and All-Conference performer Meredith Healy to be a leader, as Healy was third in the league with six assists last season. Fellow all-conference performer Molly Baxter will also return for the Pride.
 
WPI, coached by Steph Riley-Schafer and Melissa Hart, enters the poll in the fourth spot. The Engineers returners are led by Maeve Steckley, who was tied for third in the league with eight goals last season.   
 
Emerson College, led by head coach David Suvak, takes the fifth spot. They will look to Linae Bezdek to make an impact on offense, as the second team all-conference honoree led the Lions with seven goals last season.
 
Smith fills out the sixth spot. The Bears will be led by fourth-year head coach Kathy Brawn, and will return first-team All-Conference goalkeeper Skylar Smith, who tied for the league lead with seven shutouts in 2024.
 
Wheaton College enters the poll at the seventh spot. Coached by Mary-Frances Monroe, the Lyons returners include keeper Patricia Bandrup, who also led the NEWMAC with seven shutouts a season ago.
 
Coast Guard finds itself in the eighth spot as the Bears enter their 25^th season at the NCAA level. The Bears are coached by Susan Grant, who enters her 19^th season at the helm. Their returners are headlined by Lulu Vlases, who was the team leader in points (7) and goals (3) in 2024.

Clark has nabbed the ninth spot. The Cougars bring back 19 players from last year’s squad and welcome 11 players to the team. All-NEWMAC Second Team selection sophomore Georgia Louis returns to the team after scoring a team-high six goals and dishing out four assists.
 
 Wellesley rounds out the top-10. New head coach Greg Margolis takes over for the Blue, who will return all but two starters, including two-time NEWMAC Offensive Athlete of the Week Olivia Chow Gillette.

Salve Regina University, led by Tanya Roberts, and Mount Holyoke College, coached by Breena Proctor, finish out the poll in the eleventh and twelfth spots, respectively.  Both squads return several key contributors and will look to vie for NEWMAC supremacy in 2025.

Women’s soccer conference play kicks off on Saturday, September 20. The NEWMAC Championship will start with quarterfinals on November 4, followed by semifinals on November 6. The Champion will be crowned on Saturday, November 8.
 
2025 NEWMAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll

1. MIT (11) 
2. Babson (1)
3. Springfield
4. WPI
5. Emerson
6. Smith
7. Wheaton
8. Coast Guard
9. Clark
10. Wellesley
11. Salve Regina
12. Mount Holyoke

About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime (Football) and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.