LOCK HAVEN, Pa.- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) released its men's soccer preseason coaches' poll on Wednesday afternoon. Following its second PSAC Semifinal appearance in as many years, West Chester was picked to finish fourth in the PSAC East in 2025.
Reigning PSAC East Regular Season and PSAC Tournament Champion, Bloomsburg, is the preseason favorite to repeat atop the PSAC East with three first-place votes, while Millersville and East Stroudsburg are second and third with two and one first-place vote, respectively. West Chester, Shepherd, and Shippensburg round out the PSAC East.
In the PSAC West, Gannon is the preseason favorite once again with five first-place votes, while Seton Hill is second with the lone available vote. Slippery Rock, Lock Haven, California, and Pitt-Johnstown captured spots three through six to round out the Western Division.
West Chester returns an experienced group in 2025, headlined by the 2024 PSAC East Player of the Year,
Peter Tichy (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom), who led the team and PSAC East in points last year with 15. Tichy scored five goals and assisted on five more in 2024 as he became the Golden Rams' first conference Player of the Year honoree since Ricky Mucelli in 2005.
Tichy is just one of a number of talented players returning to the starting lineup in 2025 and is joined by a familiar name in keeper
Jaden Howard (Townsend, Del./Middletown), who won the starting job midway through the 2025 season. Howard entered the postseason with a record of 6-5-2 with six shutouts and a 1.00 goals-against average and finished the year at 6-6-3 with a 0.98 goals-against average and six clean sheets.
West Chester will open its 2025 season on the road at Jefferson on Thursday, September 4, beginning at 4 p.m., before hosting Holy Family on Saturday, September 6, beginning at 1 p.m.
