LOCK HAVEN, Pa. — After consecutive fourth-place finishes in the PSAC East in the last two seasons, the ESU men's soccer team was picked to hold that spot for a third straight year in the PSAC Preseason Poll.

The Warriors, who went 9-7-2 overall with a 5-4-1 record in conference play, have finished no lower than fourth in each of the last four seasons. ESU narrowly missed out on making the conference tournament last season, tying with Bloomsburg at 16 points while falling one shy of West Chester's 17. Half of the Warriors' All-PSAC selections from last season return in 2026, led by Owen Rennie, the reigning PSAC East Freshman of the Year and a D2CCA All-Atlantic Region First Team Selection. Alongside Rennie, Jace Seara, an All-PSAC First Team selection, and Drew Nyce, the 2025 PSAC East Freshman of the Year, are slated to lead ESU as the Warriors eye their first conference tournament appearance since 2022.

In the past, finishing fourth in the division meant a team was on the outside looking in on the playoff picture. However, the PSAC expanded its format to include the top four teams in each division in the conference tournament, beginning this season. ESU opens the year with three straight road games at Mercy, Gannon, and Jefferson, before hosting Queens at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5

PSAC Preseason Poll (Eastern Division)

Rank	School (# of 1st Place Votes)
1	Millersville (4)
2	West Chester (2)
3	Bloomsburg
4	East Stroudsburg
5	Shepherd
6	Shippensburg

PSAC Preseason Poll (Western Division)

Rank	School (# of 1st Place Votes)
1	Gannon (5)
2	Seton Hill (1)
3	Lock Haven
4	Slippery Rock
5	California (Pa.)
6	Pitt-Johnstown