(Story courtesy of Wheaton Athletics) 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Wheaton College (Mass.) men's soccer coaching staff was named the Region II Coaching Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches, it was announced by the USC.

The award marks the second time that Wheaton has been recognized for its coaching by the organization. Matt Cushing was named the New England Coach of the Year in 2001 by the then National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

The 2025 Lyons' coaching staff was previously named the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year following the completion of the regular season. The USC accolade marks the fourth time that Head Coach Bryan Waggoner has been recognized for his coaching acumen, having previously been named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2011 and the Virginia Sports Information Directors Coach of the Year in 2013. Waggoner, who is in his eighth year at Wheaton, is joined by his top assistant coach Connor Cushing '25, who is in his first year on the staff. Goalkeeper Coach, Josh Sousa, is currently enjoying his ninth season in Norton, while Thomas Gatanis '20 coaches in his fourth year with the Lyons, and Ethan Alfano '25 rounds out the staff as the third Wheaton alum on the sidelines.

Wheaton enjoyed one of the greatest seasons in school history that culminated in an appearance in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III National Championship and a number seven national ranking in the final USC survey. The Lyons completed the regular season with an unbeaten record for the first time in school history, while winning the NEWMAC regular-season crown for the first time since 2014. Wheaton finished the season with a 17-2-4 record, with its only losses coming at the hands of Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the NEWMAC Championship Tournament Semifinals on November 6 and to No. 4 St. Olaf College in the National Quarterfinals on November 23. The Blue and White began the season with a string of 18 matches without a loss as part of a school-record 21-game unbeaten streak, dating back to October 26, 2024.

The Lyons earned an At-Large bid to the NCAA Tournament and were chosen as a host site for the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Wheaton defeated Neumann University, 3-0, on November 15 and No. 14 Middlebury College, 1-0, on November 16. The Lyons blanked Macalester College in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, 1-0, on November 22 to send them to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2003.  

Wheaton dominated conference play, posting a 7-0-1 record, while surrendering just one goal in eight matches for an unthinkable 0.125 goals against average. As impressive as the Lyons' defense had been within conference play, their offense was stellar as well, with a league-high 20 goals in eight contests, while producing 60 corner kicks to outpace the nearest NEWMAC foe by 22. 

Overall, Wheaton was one of the best squads in the nation – both offensively and defensively. The Lyons owned a gaudy .826 winning percentage to stand ninth in NCAA Division III, while placing among the top 15 teams in goal differential (49 - 4th), goals (62 - 8th), goals against average (.565 - 10th), save percentage (.841 - 9th), and shutout percentage (.565 - 13th). 

Wheaton's win total was its highest since finishing the 2014 campaign with a 17-4-2 mark and tied for the fifth-most in program annals. The Lyons boasted some of the best players in the nation as well, with sophomore forward Gael Vera (Westminster, Mass.) being named NEWMAC Athlete of the Year and a Third Team All-American, while senior midfielder Aidan Doyle (Kingston, Mass.) was tabbed Fourth Team All-America. Both players were named First Team All-Region and joined by senior Leao Nelson (Bar Harbor, Maine), also a First Teamer and the NEWMAC Defensive Athlete of the Year. In addition, senior keeper Michael O'Gara (Ardmore, Pa.) and senior midfielder Joey Everett (Danbury, Conn.) were both First Team All-Region selections. A school-record total of eight Wheaton players were chosen for the NEWMAC All-Conference Team, including five First Teamers. Junior back Owen Kane (Pembroke, Mass.) was chosen NEWMAC First Team, while junior forward Declan Rhatigan (Holderness, N.H.), junior midfielder Ben Kane (Pembroke, Mass.) and sophomore defender Austin Hoadley (South Kent, Conn.) were Second Teamers.

The Lyons proved their mettle against the nation's elite during the regular season, recording a 1-1 tie at number 10 Williams College on September 2 and coming back to keep its unbeaten streak intact with a 3-3 draw at No. 18 Brandeis University on September 24. While just one team scored more than one goal this season against the Lyons, Wheaton routinely put the ball in the net against its opponents, scoring multiple goals in 14 of 23 matches, including three or more markers on 12 occasions. The Lyons recorded 13 shutouts to match the school standard and surrendered just 13 markers for the year.

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 eight Associate Members: Brandeis University (Women's Lacrosse, 2026-2027), New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 20 sports.