Men's Soccer | 8/11/2026 2:35:00 PM
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The defending PSAC champion and No. 11 Gannon men's soccer team has been selected as the preseason favorite in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division for the fifth consecutive season, as the conference announced its 2026 preseason coaches' poll on Tuesday afternoon.
The Golden Knights, who captured the first PSAC Championship in program history in 2025, were the unanimous choice to finish atop the Western Division, receiving all five possible first-place votes. Seton Hill received the remaining first-place vote and was picked second, followed by Lock Haven, Slippery Rock, California (Pa.) and Pitt-Johnstown.
"It's nice to be voted as the preseason favorites," said Gannon head coach
Billy Colton. "But we also know this is based on previous season's results and we have a lot of work to do to make this a reality."
A week ago, the Golden Knights were ranked No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Preseason Poll. Gannon also finished the 2025 season ranked No. 11 nationally after tying for second in Division II with 65 goals.
Gannon returns two of its seven All-PSAC West honorees from last season in defender
Jensen Peake (Staffordshire, England/Friary) and forward
Rafa Hyde (São José dos Campos, Brazil/Objetivo Aquarius). Peake made an immediate impact in his first season with the Golden Knights, helping a defensive unit that limited opponents to 1.23 goals per game while contributing two goals and four assists.
Hyde finished tied for second on the team with 10 goals while adding nine assists.
The Golden Knights enter the 2026 campaign looking to defend their PSAC Tournament crown after finishing the 2025 season with a 15-3-4 overall record and advancing to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the eighth time in program history.
Gannon captured its first PSAC Championship with 2-1 wins over West Chester and Millersville, becoming the first Western Division team to win the title since 2022.
The Golden Knights carried that momentum into the NCAA Tournament with 2-1 victories over No. 11 Bentley and No. 22 Franklin Pierce before falling to No. 6 Southern New Hampshire in the Elite Eight.
Colton, the three-time reigning PSAC West Coach of the Year, enters his eighth season as Gannon's head coach and 12th year overall with the program. He owns a 97-24-14 career record and enters 2026 just three victories shy of becoming the third head coach in program history to reach 100 career wins.
Gannon has posted a 46-4-10 record in PSAC West play during Colton's seven seasons, including a 24-0-6 mark over the last three years. The Golden Knights enter 2026 riding a 31-match unbeaten streak in PSAC West regular-season play.
In the Eastern Division, 2025 PSAC Tournament runner-up Millersville was selected as the preseason favorite after receiving four first-place votes. West Chester earned the remaining two first-place votes and was picked second, followed by Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg, Shepherd and Shippensburg.
2026 PSAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
WEST
- No. 11 GANNON (5)
- Seton Hill (1)
- Lock Haven
- Slippery Rock
- California (Pa.)
- Pitt-Johnstown
EAST
- Millersville (4)
- West Chester (2)
- Bloomsburg
- East Stroudsburg
- Shepherd
- Shippensburg
