Former national powerhouse UW-Oshkosh is reviving its men's soccer program. The Titans, who made 14 D3 tourney appearances and reached the Final Four four times before deep-sixing the program after the 2015 season, will end their hiatus after a dozen years by returning to action in 2027.
This will bump up the WIAC to seven teams, with only UW-La Crosse failing to sponsor a varsity men's soccer program within that circuit.
Any word on who will take charge at the helm of Oshkosh?
Quote from: Mr_November on February 18, 2026, 09:07:40 AMAny word on who will take charge at the helm of Oshkosh?
They just announced they would start a "national search" two days ago ...
With the addition of so many men's soccer programs in the WIAC over the last decade (Eau Claire, Stevens Point, Stout, River Falls), you have to wonder how the return of Oshkosh is going to affect the recruiting landscape in the state. Is there enough talent in Wisconsin soccer to supply all of the programs? We've already seen some of the more successful programs going out of state, with Whitewater recruiting some internationally in the last two classes and Eau Claire recruiting throughout the Midwest and even into the Pacific Northwest, while Stevens Point has even gone into Texas for a few recruits and Platteville has twice as many kids from Illinois as Wisconsin (not surprising given its location). It will be interesting to see if any of them regularly attract national recruits given the success of the programs.
These are the longest active winning-seasons streaks in D3 men's soccer:
| Ohio Wesleyan | 55 |
| Messiah | 44 |
| Amherst | 28 |
| North Park | 25 |
All of these programs took the COVID year off from playing soccer, so that's not included in the streaks.
When UW-Oshkosh starts play again in 2027 the Titans will cut in line ahead of Amherst and North Park, since UWO had a 31-season streak going when the school discontinued its men's soccer program in 2015.
Sounds like they are anticipating a new and larger conference of schools in and around NYC. Possible other additions to the conference with Pratt might be schools currently in the Skyline that are in one of the boroughs (e.g., Yeshiva, St. Joseph's Brooklyn).
Pratt moving from Atlantic East to a new and expanded conference with CUNYAC members in 2027 (https://cunyathletics.com/news/2026/2/25/general-pratt-to-join-new-and-expanded-division-iii-conference-in-2027.aspx)
QuotePratt Institute will become the first institution outside the current eight members of the CUNY Athletic Conference to help establish a newly expanded NCAA Division III conference set to begin competition in the 2027–28 academic year. This conference, which is currently in the naming, branding, and incorporation stages, focuses on institutions near New York City. Additional expansion is expected.
The Cannoneers will begin competition in the new conference in 2027-28. Pratt will join Baruch College, Brooklyn College, City College of New York, Hunter College, John Jay College, Lehman College, Medgar Evers College, and York College. Pratt is a current member of the Atlantic East Conference and will wrap up membership in that league following the 2026-27 academic year.
"As we look forward to the integration of Pratt, it allows for a more vibrant future and the potential for new and exciting directions for the conference," said Dr. Fernando Delgado, president of Lehman College and chair of the CUNY Athletic Conference Council of Presidents and the presidential leader for this group of schools forming this new conference. "We welcome Pratt and look forward to their participation on and off the fields of competition."
"Pratt, as a future member of this new conference, is monumental for several reasons. First and foremost, they fit with our other institutions in many ways, including but not limited to geographical, sport sponsorship, and competitive levels," said CUNYAC Acting Commissioner Dr. Kurt Patberg. "In addition, they are a well-established, strong academic institution with specialized curricula, like many of our institutions. They are the first private institution of what will hopefully be several others that see this new conference as a great fit."
Pratt Institute, located in Brooklyn, sponsors 14 NCAA Division III sports, including equestrian, and enrolls approximately 5,100 students. The Cannoneers will compete in the new conference in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, and men's and women's volleyball.
Pratt enhances the new conference's presence in New York City as the eight current members reside in the five boroughs of New York City. Pratt joins Brooklyn College and Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn. Manhattan (Baruch College, City College of New York, Hunter College, John Jay College, the Bronx (Lehman College) and Queens (York College) are also represented.
"We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter, one that brings Pratt even closer to the heart of New York City and aligns our athletic program with institutions that value both academic creativity and competitive spirit," said Pratt Institute Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Delmy Lendof. "This move to a vibrant, New York City-centered conference is a natural evolution for Pratt, strengthening our ties to the communities we serve across the boroughs,"
"We are thrilled to join this new conference that aligns with our commitment to providing a competitive, student-centered athletic experience in the heart of New York City," added Pratt Director of Athletics Walter Rickard. "This move strengthens our geographical fit, enhances rivalries within the boroughs, and opens exciting opportunities for our student-athletes to compete at a high level while pursuing their creative and academic passions. We look forward to building lasting relationships and contributing to the growth of this conference both on and off the field."
At the recent NCAA meetings, the membership committee approved (https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/committees/d2/memb/Feb2026D3Memb_Report.pdf)the applications for reclassification of the following schools:
Azusa Pacific (from DII)
St. Francis University (from DI)
and approved an exploratory year for the following:
University of Maine at Augusta (from the USCAA)
Azusa Pacific will be playing in the SCIAC and St. Francis in the PAC
Presumably, University of Maine at Augusta will eventually play in the NAC, but I haven't seen an announcement on that yet
Heck, there's not anything on the UMA athletic or main site about the exploratory year. Usually colleges treat this as a Big Thing which kind of makes you wonder how committed they are to the idea.
I think it's less an indicator of indifference and more likely a matter of UMA lacking a sports information director. The school's athletics page is link-free and totally useless. That's one thing that UMA will have to change if the school eventually join D3; in the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants USCAA, nobody thinks twice about schools being informational wastelands and you thus know nothing about an opponent prior to the opening whistle. And that's not the way it is in D3.
I do look forward to Maine-Augusta joining D3 eventually. The one thing that I did learn about UMA by looking at its website is that the school's teams are called the Moose. Doesn't matter, though, because if UMA joins D3 I shall henceforth be referring to its teams as the Thurmans. ;)
One interesting note about the NCAA granting University of Maine at Augusta's petition for an exploratory year in DIII is that at the same Jan. 26, 2026 meeting that the University of Maine Board of Trustees authorized Augusta to apply for a DIII exploratory year, it also authorized (https://www.maine.edu/board-of-trustees/meeting-actions/#:~:text=The%20Board%20of%20Trustees%20(BOT)%20of%20the,to%20join%20the%20NCAA%20Division%20III%20level)the University of Maine Fort Kent to apply for a DIII exploratory year. There is no indication, however, that such an application was filed or made it to the level that it could be considered by the NCAA's membership committee.
If Maine Augusta and Fort Kent do end up in DIII, that would raise the number of DIII schools in Maine to 13, which is pretty large number for a state that doesn't have a huge population. It already has more DIII schools than states like Michigan and California.
From a men's soccer perspective, Augusta is going to have to seriously increase its recruiting if it is going to compete in DIII. Last season, it went 0-11 and lost twice to the only DIII team it played - Maine Presque-Isle, which had a 4-10-12 record - by 10-0 and 15-0 scores.
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 19, 2026, 04:49:36 PMThese are the longest active winning-seasons streaks in D3 men's soccer:
| Ohio Wesleyan | 55 |
| Messiah | 44 |
| Amherst | 28 |
| North Park | 25 |
All of these programs took the COVID year off from playing soccer, so that's not included in the streaks.
When UW-Oshkosh starts play again in 2027 the Titans will cut in line ahead of Amherst and North Park, since UWO had a 31-season streak going when the school discontinued its men's soccer program in 2015.
Trinity(TX) has a 31-year streak. 1994 was their last season below .500 and the Tigers did play a truncated 2020 season in which it went 6-1-1.
Thanks, Ron. The NCAA record book for D3 MSOC does not list the current Trinity (TX) streak. (The longest consecutive-winning-seasons streaks, both current and all-time, are listed on page 18 of that record book. (https://s3.amazonaws.com/fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_soccer_RB/D3.pdf)) North Park's streak isn't listed, either, although we've contacted the NCAA in the past and tried to get them to correct the omission.
I'm not sure this is news that is of interest nationally, but the idea that a New York City DIII school would expand the seating capacity of its field from 70 to 1,300 seems like a good thing not just for Lehman and the CUNYAC, but for DIII generally. That size may make it one of the larger college stadiums in NYC.
Of course, it's optimistic that Lehman College could attract 1300 fans, but Lehman has been one of the more successful teams in the CUNYAC and the Bronx certainly has enough people who are avid soccer fans that it's not impossible, particularly for a big CUNYAC game or even an NCAA tournament game.
Plus, a stadium that seats 1300 could also accommodate a USL league 1 or MLS Next Pro club under U.S. Soccer's professional league standards for a Division III league.
Espaillat Announces $820,000K for South Field Funding (https://lehmanathletics.com/news/2026/3/4/general-espaillat-announces-820k-for-south-field-funding.aspx)
QuoteCongressman Adriano Espaillat joined Lehman College on March 2 for a check presentation marking an $820,000 allocation to expand seating at South Field, a project that will boost capacity from 70 to more than 1,300 fans. Campus leaders, students, and student-athletes attended the event.
"Working in the Bronx is a pleasure because our officials are passionate about the Bronx, supportive of CUNY, and always interested in Lehman," President Fernando Delgado said. "Congressman Adriano Espaillat more than fits that bill."
The funding will support new bleachers for South Field, expanding seating for Lehman's varsity baseball, softball, and men's and women's soccer games and making it possible to host a wider range of campus and neighborhood activities. CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez said the investment would directly benefit Lehman's athletics programs.
"This is a real game changer for our student-athletes and their fans," he said. "Congressman Adriano Espaillat is someone who consistently supports his constituents and delivers for them, and we sincerely thank him for his support."
Lehman student-athletes also welcomed the gift and the benefits it will bring to the College community. Sophomore exercise science major Danny McCrink, who is on the Lightning baseball roster, said, "We're super grateful for the opportunity to have [more] fans, family, and friends come and watch us play on the ball field, and want to thank Congressman Espaillat."
Addressing students in the audience, Espaillat noted that most of them are in his district. "You are the architects of the future of the city, dare I say the world," he said. "This is just a drop in the bucket. I promise to do much more to ensure you have a future in this great nation."
That $820K is going to do a lot of lifting if it's going to not only increase seating for soccer but also baseball and softball. That said, they have one facility, "South Field (https://www.lehman.cuny.edu/itr/documents/lc-3D-map.pdf)", which contains not only the soccer field but the baseball and softball fields. I guess they put up temporary fencing once soccer season is over to define the boundaries of the two ball fields? From the current image in Google Maps, they also use it for graduation ceremonies.
Lehman sits 1 mile east of Manhattan University (still sounds weird) and 1 mile west of Fordham University, both of whom have 2,000 and 7,000 seat stadiums respectively. Not really sure of the draw for upgrading Lehman's facilities.
Another DIII transfer to DI story and one that has to sting for Gustavus Adolphus:
Kieran Mahan, a freshman forward for Gustavus who scored 12 goals and had 6 assists last season and was named MIAC Rookie of the Year, MIAC All-Conference Team, MIAC All-Playoff Team, and Second Team All-Region IX, is transferring to Drake University (DI) according to a post last month from Drake Men's Soccer Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/DUY00UlCZXR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dLtP9rIl80 little video about Josh Kirkland and his journey to landing with the Richmond Kickers
Quote from: Kuiper on March 10, 2026, 01:38:23 PMAnother DIII transfer to DI story and one that has to sting for Gustavus Adolphus:
Kieran Mahan, a freshman forward for Gustavus who scored 12 goals and had 6 assists last season and was named MIAC Rookie of the Year, MIAC All-Conference Team, MIAC All-Playoff Team, and Second Team All-Region IX, is transferring to Drake University (DI) according to a post last month from Drake Men's Soccer Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/DUY00UlCZXR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==)
Interestingly, Drake is coached by Pat Flinn, who coached at UChicago (head and asst.) during their emergence as a national power.
Top Drawer posted a Top 10 players (https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/ten-best-players-in-diii-mens-soccer_aid55761) list for DIII Men's Soccer. The article is paywalled, but an Instagram post (https://www.instagram.com/p/DV9Socwj1Kb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==)gives the player names.
Do you agree with it? Who have they left off? For me, not including Adam Knutson or Samuel Theiss from Trinity is a miss.
1. Bijan Akhtarzandi-Das (Tufts)
2. Ryan Bechtel (St. Olaf)
3. Connor Gage (Edgewood)
4. Alex Michael (Pfeiffer)
5. Christian Hodges (Augsburg)
6. Kasdan Blattman (Macalester)
7. Matthew Torrell (Calvin)
8. Alex Depperschmidt (Mt. Union)
9. Ethan Wirtschaffter (Wash. U)
10. Brady Leitner (Hobart)
A bit beyond the topic, but relevant imo. Also the narrator talks about law school, but pretty applies to all undergrad and grad school. Very scary and a good financial correction imo. Something to think about when going to college with a major that requires a grad school. Money is king.
https://www.youtube.com/live/R8lsOqQo5rU?si=iwiTJOJgZmAM-53_
Despite former Western Connecticut (D3) men's soccer player Patrick Agyemang scoring (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mvvGoyAWbI) for the USMNT today, they're going to find a way to blame us for that awful 5-2 defeat today to Belgium, right?
I can hear it now:
"Turner wasn't even good enough to be recruited for Muhlenberg!" (for the backstory, see this (https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/high-school/soccer/2022/11/16/matt-turner-park-ridge-nj-usa-goalkeeper-world-cup-2023/69540220007/))
Crazy story out of Rowan University. Kind of makes you wonder if any DI to DIII transfers in men's soccer have been because of drug test issues (do they even drug test in DI men's soccer?).
Championship Wins Resurface Rowan runner's Doping Allegations (https://thewhitonline.com/89524/sports/championship-wins-resurface-seth-clevengers-doping-allegations/)
Quotea runner in Rowan University's Track and Field program, won both the 3000-meter and 5000-meter events at this year's NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham, Alabama. In the 5000 meters, the junior from Haddonfield set a meet record with a time of 13:35.55, and won by almost 30 seconds compared to the runner-up.
As [the runner] accepted his award, the second through eighth place competitors stepped off the podium and refused to participate in the group photo thereafter. Instead, they took their own separate picture in protest, Canadian Running Magazine reported.
After that, [the runner] went on to win the 3000 meters by over 10 seconds. Again, his competitors opted to step off the podium rather than take a photo with the 22-year-old.
Why, exactly, were these other students stepping off the podium in protest? It was in response to allegations that [the runner] — a transfer from Division I Iowa State University who joined Rowan this spring — used banned substances in the fall of 2025.
QuoteThe university never publicly released the names or specific reasons for suspension, in compliance with FERPA — a federal law protecting the privacy of student education records — but his sudden absence from team events suggested his involvement. Records can only be released publicly if a release form is signed by individual students.
The Whit attempted to catch up with [the runner], but wasn't able to set up an interview before publishing this article.
A petition started by Emmanuel Leblond, a runner from Johns Hopkins University, has garnered over 750 signatures from collegiate track and field athletes across the country, demanding a full investigation into the doping allegations against [the runner].
Leblond addressed the petition to Shawn Tucker, director of athletics at Rowan University, and Terry Small, commissioner of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), the collegiate conference Rowan is a part of.
This was a huge deal in the D3 T&F world.
Rowan won the D3 NCAA indoor championship by *one* point. This slob fine young gentleman earned them 20 of them.
Another Atlantic East school joining Pratt in moving to a new conference with the CUNYAC schools. This time, it's Saint Elizabeth University, the first that is in New Jersey, not one of the five boroughs
Saint Elizabeth University to Join New DIII Conference with CUNYAC Schools Plus Pratt in 27-28 (https://cunyathletics.com/news/2026/3/30/general-saint-elizabeth-university-is-the-newest-commitment-to-nyc-area-division-iii-conference.aspx)
QuoteSaint Elizabeth University (SEU) will join nine Division III institutions, eight of whom are current members of the CUNY Athletic Conference, to help establish a newly expanded NCAA Division III conference set to begin competition in the 2027–28 academic year. This conference, which is currently in the final stages of naming, branding, and incorporation, focuses on institutions in or near New York City.
In 2027-28, the Eagles will begin competition by joining Baruch College, Brooklyn College, City College of New York, Hunter College, John Jay College, Lehman College, Medgar Evers College, Pratt Institute and York College. Saint Elizabeth, like Pratt, is a current member of the Atlantic East Conference and will end participation in that league at the end of the 2026-27 academic year. Additional expansion is expected.
QuoteSaint Elizabeth, located in Morristown, New Jersey, will bring a total of 12 NCAA Division III sports into the new conference. The Eagles will compete in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's outdoor track and field, and men's and women's volleyball. Saint Elizabeth also sponsors STUNT as an NCAA sport.
With the addition of Saint Elizabeth, the new conference's footprint will expand to New Jersey, with the nine current members located within the five boroughs of New York City in Manhattan (Baruch, CCNY, Hunter, John Jay), Brooklyn (Brooklyn, Medgar Evers, Pratt), Queens (York) and the Bronx (Lehman). Saint Elizabeth has convenient access to Manhattan and the five boroughs and is located on the New Jersey Transit Morristown Line at the Convent Station stop, offering direct access to Penn Station.
Quote from: Kuiper on March 17, 2026, 10:29:07 AMTop Drawer posted a Top 10 players (https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/ten-best-players-in-diii-mens-soccer_aid55761) list for DIII Men's Soccer. The article is paywalled, but an Instagram post (https://www.instagram.com/p/DV9Socwj1Kb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==)gives the player names.
Do you agree with it? Who have they left off? For me, not including Adam Knutson or Samuel Theiss from Trinity is a miss.
1. Bijan Akhtarzandi-Das (Tufts)
2. Ryan Bechtel (St. Olaf)
3. Connor Gage (Edgewood)
4. Alex Michael (Pfeiffer)
5. Christian Hodges (Augsburg)
6. Kasdan Blattman (Macalester)
7. Matthew Torrell (Calvin)
8. Alex Depperschmidt (Mt. Union)
9. Ethan Wirtschaffter (Wash. U)
10. Brady Leitner (Hobart)
My view of lists like this is that they are of very little value. These are top players, for sure! The problem with d3 soccer is that there are so many teams, over such a wide geographic area, and now so many teams behind paywalls that it is virtually impossible for any one person let alone group of people to see all the good players out there, and then compare them to all the other kids playing.
Sure, most players don't need to be seen. But no one is watching all of the top 20%, or even top 10% of players. If a kid is on a high profile team, they get seen (though not compared to all the other players at a similar level). If not, it's very very unlikely they will make this list. Even with good teams, it's impossible to put the players in a national context with any accuracy.