Men's soccer ties for No. 8 in PAC's Preseason Coaches' Poll

8/20/2025 5:39:00 PM

TRAFFORD, Pa.--The Westminster College men's soccer team was picked to finish in an eighth-place tie with Saint Vincent in this year's Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll. The results of the preseason poll, voted on by the conference's 12 head coaches, were announced with the PAC's Players to Watch List Wednesday morning.

Westminster and Saint Vincent both received 40 points in this year's poll. Grove City was named the preseason favorite, claiming the top spot with 116 points and six first-place votes. Defending PAC tournament champion Franciscan followed in second with 113 points and five first-place votes. Geneva, the 2023 PAC champion, was third with 104 points and final first-place vote.

The Titans had a pair of returners appear on the league's Players to Watch list: junior midfielder Orrin Milcic (Butler, Pa., Homeschooled (Knoch)) and sophomore defender Nisho Simon (Kapolei, Hawaii, Mililani). Milcic made starts in 15-of-16 matches last season, while Simon made starts in 11-of-17 matches a year ago. Both were named team captains going into 2025.

Ryan Francis was named head coach on April 17. In February, the College made the decision to split the men's and women's coaching positions, allowing longtime head coach Girish Thakar to concentrate specifically on the women's side. The move separates the programs' coaching staffs for the first time since 2002, when Thakar began running the two programs concurrently.

Westminster opens the season at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29 in Huntingdon, Pa. against Juniata. The Titans' home opener is slated for Saturday, Aug. 30 against Pitt-Greensburg. The match is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m. at the UPMC Sports Complex. On Saturday, Sept. 24 Westminster wil kick off PAC play against Waynesburg. The league match is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start.

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