Men's Soccer | 8/13/2025 2:35:00 PM

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The defending PSAC Champion Bloomsburg men's soccer team begins its defense of the conference crown with a top-slotted ranking in the 2025 PSAC Preseason Poll announced Wednesday afternoon by the conference office. The preseason rankings are voted on by the conference's coaches.

The Huskies are coming off the most decorated campaign in program history in 2024, with last season's squad finishing 15-4-2, the program's single-season record for wins, including the team's first PSAC Championship in history. 2024 capped off the most successful three-year run in program history with 40 total victories, three consecutive PSAC Tournament appearances, and back-to-back NCAA Tournament bids for the first time in the team's 50 years of competition. For his efforts on the sideline, head coach Mark Bassett was named the PSAC East Coach of the Year for the second time in his tenure, along with leading the United Soccer Coaches Atlantic Region Staff of the Year.

Bloomsburg claims the top spot in the East with three first-place votes, followed closely behind by Millersville in second with two top-slotted votes. In third, with the lone remaining first-place nod, is East Stroudsburg. West Chester takes the No. 4 spot in the poll, followed by Shepherd and Shippensburg in fifth and sixth, respectively.

Out West, last season's PSAC Runners-Up, the Gannon Golden Knights, take the mantle with the top spot and five of a possible six first-place votes. Seton Hill is second in the preseason poll with the final top selection. Slippery Rock (No. 3) and Lock Haven (No. 4) make up the middle of the pack in the PSAC West, rounded out by California (Pa.) and Pitt-Johnstown in fifth and sixth.

KEY RETURNERS
The Huskies will have a new look with familiar faces after losing several members of a decorated senior class. Senior Kody Besser (Lacey Township, N.J./Lacey Township) returns to captain Bloomsburg in its efforts to repeat after garnering first-team United Soccer Coaches All-America recognition in 2024. Junior Owen Hollobaugh (State College, Pa./State College) returns for Bloomsburg up top after receiving United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-America honors in 2024 with five goals and two assists to his name.

In defense, Micah Diggs (Groton, Conn./Fitch) and Owen Peri (Dallastown, Pa./Dallastown) will look to continue a strong foundation across the backline for a Bloomsburg team that surrendered 0.71 goals per contest a season ago. The Huskies will look to several faces, including Quaid Molino (Charleston, S.C./Wando (S.C.)), Brayden Ahlum (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton) and Adrian Rodriguez (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow), to replace notable production from midfield in 2025. Bloomsburg will get support along the wings from Zach Morales (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) and Braden Alicea (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Lower Moreland), two of three players on the team to start in all 21 contests for the Huskies last season, along with the return of Jaliyl Melvin (Mount Holly, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional). The Huskies will lastly seek continued sparks in the attacking third with help from Sam Blumberger (Colchester, Conn./Bacon Academy) and Jake Pacacha (Shelton, Conn./St. Joseph).

SCHEDULE NOTES
An 18-game schedule awaits the Bloomsburg men's soccer team in 2025, featuring nine home and road contests.

The season begins for the Huskies with an away match against Dominican (NY) on Thursday, September 4. Bloomsburg's first home match of the season is on Saturday, September 6, against Lock Haven. The Huskies then play three consecutive road contests. The team first travels to take on Felician on Wednesday, September 10. On Saturday, September 13, Bloomsburg takes on PSAC West opposition Seton Hill. The week of away action concludes on Wednesday, September 17, in Philadelphia against Jefferson. The Huskies wrap up the month at Steph Pettit Stadium with a game against Frostburg State.

October kicks off the conference slate, as Bloomsburg makes a short trek east to take on East Stroudsburg. The Huskies take on West Chester in their first home PSAC East contest of the year on Saturday, October 4. Bloomsburg faces off at Shippensburg on Wednesday, October 8, before returning home to take on Millersville on Saturday, October 11. The Huskies get a break in conference action for a matchup with Roberts Wesleyan on Wednesday, October 15, before wrapping up the first half of the PSAC East schedule at Shepherd on Saturday, October 18. 

Bloomsburg wraps up the month of October, beginning at home against Shippensburg on Wednesday, October 22. The Huskies then head to West Chester on Saturday, October 25, to take on the Golden Rams, before the month concludes with a matchup against East Stroudsburg at home. November signals a sprint to the end of the regular season, as the team travels to Millersville to take on the Marauders on Saturday, November 1. Bloomsburg's final two regular-season games are at Steph Pettit Stadium, first with its final non-conference matchup against Goldey-Beacom on Monday, November 3, before the regular-season finale on Thursday, November 6, against Shepherd.

FOLLOW ALONG
All Husky home games will be streamed on the Bloomsburg Digital Network in partnership with Bloomsburg University Sports Network (BUSN) and Blue Frame on the PSAC Sports Digital Network. Live stats will be provided through SIDEARM Sports and NCAA Live Stats.