Ahead of the 2018 college season, New England Soccer Journal has named its Preseason Best XI.
The team – which includes one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders, and two strikers – is arranged in a 3-5-2 formation. Given the wealth of talent across the region, honorable mention players are also included. All selections are based off past performances, pro potential and likely impact in 2018.
These players have a high standard to meet, with two locals from last year's local D1 men's landscape landing in Major League Soccer. Mac Steeves (Needham, Mass.), who made his name as a forward for Providence, plays for the Houston Dynamo, while former Dartmouth center back Wyatt Omsberg (Scarborough, Maine) is part of Minnesota United.
Could some of these players – ranging from big-name programs such as Boston College and UConn, to smaller-profile ones such as Fairfield and URI – follow in their footsteps?
