FARMINGTON, Maine - The University of Maine at Farmington men's soccer team secured the fourth seed in the upcoming North Atlantic Conference (NAC) tournament and will host fifth-seeded Lesley University on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Leib Field in a NAC quarterfinal matchup.
Overview:
The winner of Saturday afternoon's contest between the Beavers and the Lynx will advance to the NAC Semifinals on Wednesday to take on top-seeded Thomas College.
With eight teams in the conference this season following the departure of SUNY Delhi and SUNY Cobleskill, six of the eight institutions qualified for the playoffs. The playoff format allows the top two seeds to receive a bye into the semifinal round, while the sixth seed travels to face the third seed and the fifth seed travels to take on the fourth seed. Thomas went unbeaten in conference play to secure the top seed. Husson earned the second bye after defeating Maine Maritime on Wednesday evening.
Tournament Seeding:
- Thomas College: 7-0 (21 pts)
- Husson University: 6-1 (18 pts)
- Maine Maritime Academy: 5-2 (15 pts)
- UMaine Farmington: 4-3 (12 pts)
- Lesley University: 3-4 (9 pts)
- VTSU Johnson: 1-5-1 (4 pts)
Season at a Glance:
The Beavers wrapped up their regular season on Wednesday afternoon and will enter the playoffs with plenty of momentum after playing some of their best soccer of the season. Farmington finished the regular season with a 6-9-2 overall record but has gone 4-0-1 over its last five games.
The season did not begin the way the Beavers would have hoped, as they went 0-6-1 over their first seven contests while scoring just five goals during that stretch. However, the Beavers turned things around offensively against Lesley on September 26, dominating en route to a 5-0 victory for their first win of the season. Farmington completed the 2-0 weekend with its second shutout in as many days, topping VTSU Castleton, 2-0, at home.
Despite suffering three losses in conference play, Farmington gave each of the higher seeds a tough challenge. In their conference opener on September 11 against Thomas, the Beavers held a pair of leads but were unable to hold on in a 4-2 setback in Waterville. Farmington also had plenty of opportunities to find the back of the net against Husson on October 3, but the Eagles thwarted each of the Beavers' scoring opportunities to earn a 1-0 victory.
In their four conference victories, Farmington outscored its opponents 15-2, receiving goals from numerous players throughout the roster.
The Lineup:
Beginning in the back, junior goalkeeper Parker Day (Brentwood, N.H.) is likely to draw the start. Day appeared in 11 games this season, making 10 starts and posting a 4-5-1 record. He recorded 44 saves while finishing with a 1.85 goals-against average and a .710 save percentage.
Farmington's defensive line has undergone quite a few changes throughout the season, with a handful of players seeing time in the back. Senior Rafael Harron (Camas, Wash.), junior Monte Weaver (Surry, Maine), Aubrey King (Blue Hill, Maine), and Kaden Smith (Farmington, Maine) have received the most playing time on defense this season for the Beavers.
Moving into the midfield, the central midfield has been controlled by junior JJ Greenlaw (Farmington, Maine) and sophomores Reid Pambianco (Blue Hill, Maine) and Garrett Gendreau (Waterville, Maine). Oscar Davis (Scarborough, Maine), Fred Coit (Blue Hill, Maine), Vishal Mellor (Union, Maine), and Jackson Landry (Gorham, Maine) have each played critical roles in the wing positions for the Beavers. The four players have combined to score seven goals while dishing out nine assists.
Up top, Farmington has been led by junior striker Jack Luciano (Gorham, Maine). Luciano leads the team with seven goals and four assists. Sophomore Owen Spera (Gorham, Maine), who has transitioned into a role coming off the bench, finished the regular season with four goals, good for second on the team. Senior Star Boma (Caribou, Maine) will likely see significant minutes at forward for the Beavers as well.
Overall, the Beavers have great depth, as nine different players have registered two or more goals this season.
A win on Saturday would give the Beavers their first playoff victory since the 2023 season.
