SAINT PAUL, Minn. – After a historic 2024 campaign which saw the Yellowjacket men's soccer team advance to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the first time in program history, Superior found themselves as the favorite to repeat as Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) champions in 2025, as the league revealed its preseason poll results Tuesday.
 
UWS collected six-of-seven first place votes and 36 points in the poll of conference coaches. Receiving the final first place nod was Bethany Lutheran, who came in second place with 30 points.
 
The Yellowjackets return a trio of key contributors from last year's squad in seniors Jake Kidd (Superior, Wis./Superior), Isaac Becket (Surrey, England/The Sixth Form College Farnborough), and Freddy Watson (Wendover, England/Berkshire College of Agriculture). Kidd, who finished second in total goals throughout NCAA Division III last season (24), was named the league's offensive player of the year and earned a spot on the United Soccer Coaches All-Region IX First Team. Becket played in 24-of-25 matches last season compiling 1,353 minutes, while Watson garnered a fourth team selection from the United Soccer Coaches after ending the year with 11 goals and 31 points.
 
Coming in third place with 25 points was Northwestern, closely followed by Crown in fourth with 22 points. North Central (17) and Minnesota Morris (12) followed in fifth and sixth place, respectively, while Martin Luther rounded out the circuit with five points.
 
UW-Superior begins the regular season this Friday as they play host to Luther College. Action is set to begin at 3 p.m. at Superior Choice Credit Union Stadium.