Men's Soccer Tabbed Pre-Season No. 1
SALEM, Mass. – Salem State is primed for a return to the top of the MASCAC standings as the Vikings were picked first by the conference's nine coaches in the 2025 MASCAC Men's Soccer Pre-Season Coaches Poll, which was released on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
Head coach Matt Correia's squad is looking to bounce back from last season's disappointing 6-8-6 campaign, (2-3-2) MASCAC record after posting five straight seasons of 11 wins or more. Despite finishing fifth, Salem State dispatched fourth seed Worcester State, 3-1 in the MASCAC Tournament before beating regular season champion Bridgewater State on penalty kicks in the semifinals. Second seed Westfield State ended Salem State's title aspirations with a 2-0 victory in the championship game, but their post-season run showed that this team can compete for a league title and can claim Salem State's first conference championship since 2021.
SEASON OUTLOOK
An uncharacteristic showing by Salem State last year has motivated this year's team to prove the 2024 regular season was an aberration.
Added Correia, "Last year we made a good run in the post-season, but had a poor showing in the regular season. Our expectations this year are to play better in the regular season to give us a better chance of success in the post-season.
It is a group effort this year and our juniors and seniors, who have been a part of the program for a while, have done an excellent job helping this squad mature."
Fourth year captain Gabe DaSilva will have plenty of support, which includes returning MASCAC First Teamer Stephane Fevry (Haverhill, Mass.), who was one of the top scoring freshman in the league last season and sophomore Matheus Pelissari (Lowell, Mass.), who was third on the team in scoring and led the team in assists (5).
Sophomore keeper Marcelo Silva (Marlborough, Mass.) is the most experienced returner of the three goalies, garnering eight starts as a freshman while posting a respectable 3-3-2 record.
Coach's Take
"All 20 of our possible returning players are back from our 2024 team that made a run to the MASCAC title game. At the Division III level that can be rare. This is a group that is hungry and wants to finish the job. Our additions are talented players and great people who will support us in those efforts. We expect them to have an immediate impact. Together this group will look to have a better regular season than last year. Our conference has improved over the last couple of seasons, and we understand we need to raise our level. Our goal is to do that."
- Head Coach Matt Correia
From The Captain – Sr. Gabriel DaSilva (Woburn, Mass.)
"This season feels like a defining moment. After a challenging regular season last year, our freshmen stepped up big time in the playoffs and we were able to fight our way to the championship game. Now, our roster is more experienced, and we have added some top tier talent. The expectations are sky-high, as they always are for us. My teammates and I are locked in, ready to do whatever it takes to get back to that championship game and bring the title home to Salem."
2025 New Players to Watch
Iago DeSousa-Vieira- Medford, Mass. - Medford High School, Transfer from Stonehill College
Liam Hyatt- Endwell, N.Y. - Maine Endwell HS, Transfer from Alfred State. AMCC All-Conference 3rd team
Jadiel Bomfim - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Nashua South HS, Transfer from Northern Essex Community College, 2X JUCO All-American
Season Opener
Salem State opens the season on the road against Skidmore on Saturday, August 30 @ 1:00pm.
2025 MASCAC Men's Soccer Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes In Parentheses)
1. Salem State (4) - 61 points
2. Bridgewater State (4) - 59 points
3. Westfield State (1) - 53 points
4. Fitchburg State - 40 points
5. Anna Maria - 35 points
6. Worcester State - 27 points
7. Framingham State - 19 points
8. MCLA - 18 points
9. Massachusetts Maritime - 12 points