Indiana Tabbed Big Ten Favorite; Players to Watch List Announced

Jonathan Turner
Aug 19
2 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

Indiana Tabbed Big Ten Favorite; Players to Watch List Announced

ROSEMONT, Ill. (Aug. 19, 2025) – Indiana has been chosen as the preseason favorite to capture the 2025 Big Ten men’s soccer title, according to a vote of the league’s head coaches released Tuesday.

The Hoosiers, ranked No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, earned six first-place votes and four second-place selections to lead the poll. Maryland was picked second, followed by defending Big Ten Tournament champion Ohio State in third. UCLA and Washington rounded out the top five.

Alongside the poll, the conference unveiled its 2025 Big Ten Players to Watch List. The group features eight returning All-Big Ten honorees, including Michigan State goalkeeper and reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year Zac Kelly, and Maryland midfielder Leon Koehl, a First Team selection.

The 2025 Big Ten season kicks off Thursday with all 11 teams in action.

2025 Big Ten Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll

Indiana
Maryland
Ohio State
UCLA
Washington
Michigan
Michigan State
Wisconsin
Rutgers
Penn State
Northwestern

2025 Big Ten Men’s Soccer Players to Watch

Indiana: Palmer Ault (Sr., F), Josh Maher (So., D), Collins Oduro (Jr., M)
Maryland: Luca Costabile (Sr., D), Leon Koehl (Jr., M), Sadam Masereka (Sr., F)
Michigan: Raymundo Mendez (Gr., M/F), Nolan Miller (Sr., D), Shuma Sasaki (Gr., F/M)
Michigan State: Zac Kelly (Sr., GK), Miles Merritt (Jr., M), Brandon Munson (So., D)
Northwestern: Jason Gajadhar (Sr., M), Nigel Prince (Sr., D), Fritz Volmar (Jr., D)
Ohio State: Marko Borkovic (Sr., F), Thomas Gilej (Gr., M), Luciano Pechota (Sr., M)
Penn State: Malick Daouda (So., M), Caden Grabfelder (Jr., M), Kai Phillip (Gr., F)
Rutgers: Nick Collins (Jr., D), Ciaran Dalton (Sr., GK), Joschi Schelb (Jr., M)
UCLA: Drew Brown (Sr., D), Sergi Solans Ormo (So., F), Tamir Ratoviz (So., M)
Washington: Egor Akulov (Sr., D), Richie Aman (Sr., F), Charlie Kosakoff (Jr., F)
Wisconsin: Matisse Hébert (So., GK), Ellis Jones (Jr., D), Matthew Zachemski (So., M)