BOSTON, MASS. (August 25, 2026) -- UMass Boston enters 2026 with a target on its back. For the fourth consecutive season (2023-2026) the Beacons were voted first in the Little East Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll after receiving six first-place votes, and they bring back a championship-tested core while integrating a talented newcomer group to defend the crown and push deeper into this year's NCAA Tournament.
Season Outlook: Defending the Crown
As the LEC preseason favorite, the Beacons return a championship-tested core — including LEC Defensive Player of the Year Ian Visnick (Beverly, Mass.) anchoring the back line and First Team All-LEC, Second Team All-Region forward John Arruda (Espirito Santo, Brazi;) spearheading the attack — while integrating six newcomers. Coming off a year in which UMass Boston led the LEC in scoring average (2.42 goals per game), opponents' scoring average (0.95 goals per game), most goals scored (25), and save percentage (.802), that blend of continuity and competition across all three lines positions the Beacons as the standard-bearer in the conference and a threat nationally.
2025 in Review: A Championship Run
UMass Boston authored a 13-4-4 campaign highlighted by a late-season surge and the program's Little East Conference title. The Beacons lifted the trophy with a gritty 2-1 road win at Western Connecticut on November 8, then rolled into the NCAA Tournament with a 4-1 first-round victory over Roger Williams before bowing out in a narrow 3-2 second-round battle at Bowdoin. Along the way, UMass Boston topped the LEC in scoring average (2.42 goals per game), opponents' scoring average (0.95), most goals scored (25), and save percentage (.802).
The Returning Core: All-LEC Talent
The attack is paced by Arruda (11 goals, 26 points) and playmaker Ryan Doherty (Donegal. Ireland.) (8 goals, team-high 7 assists). Veteran Ryan Lima (Minas Gerais, Brazil.) (4 goals, 5 assists) adds balance in midfield, while high-usage wide man Eduardo Chirico (Minas Gerais, Brazil.) (20 starts) threatens both in transition and the final third. On the back line, iron man Ian Visnick logged 1,772 minutes to lead a defense that tightened as the year wore on. In goal, experienced shot-stoppers JJ Devine (Halifax, Mass..), Mario Hajhdi (Ilioupoli, Greece.), and Victor Reyes (La Union, E.S.) provide depth and competition between the posts.
Newcomers and Transfers
UMass Boston adds six newcomers to the 2026 roster. Transfer midfielders Jesus Guarcas (Providence, RI) (Assumption College, NCAA DII) and Raphael Alves (Framingham, Mass.) (MassBay CC) arrive alongside forward Idman Hodzic (Bosnia & Hercegovina) (University of North Georgia). Three true freshmen bolster the midfield in Pedro Moraes (Boston, Mass.), Gabriel Jordao (Bellingham, Mass.), and Bryan Norena (Revere, Mass.), rounding out a class that complements the returning core.
The 2026 Slate: LEC Title Defense
The road to November is road-heavy: 11 away dates and five at home. UMass Boston opens at Salve Regina on September 1, then tests itself against non-conference opponents MIT (Sept. 23), WPI (Sept. 29), and Cortland (Oct. 12). The LEC rematch at Western Connecticut on October 3 highlights conference play, with the regular-season finale set for October 28 at UMass Dartmouth.
Some key matchups for the Beacons will take place on the following dates: September 1: at Salve Regina: Season opener September 19: at Rhode Island College: LEC opener September 26: vs Keene State: First home LEC test October 3: at Western Connecticut: LEC Championship rematch October 12: at Cortland: New non-conference challenge October 28: at UMass Dartmouth: Regular-season finale
Coaching Staff
Head coach Jake Beverlin, the program's all-time winningest coach as of October 19, 2025, continues to steer the Beacons after guiding championship-caliber groups in consecutive seasons. Beverlin and his staff were honored as the 2024 LEC Coaching Staff of the Year, and the 2026 side carries those standards into another title chase.
How to Follow
UMass Boston kicks off the season on Tuesday, September 1 at 5:00 p.m. at Salve Regina in Newport, R.I. Home dates at the Boston College High JV Field behind Monan Park will feature live stats and video, with additional coverage available throughout the year on BeaconsAthletics.com and the FloCollege.
--FIND A WAY--
