Waterville, ME – The 2025 Men's Soccer season is almost here, and student-athletes will be returning to campus next week to begin their preseason preparations. This year Men's Soccer will be looking to defend their 2024 NAC Championship with a strong group of returners and another large incoming class.
 
Head Men's Soccer Coach Kyle Fletcher and his staff have worked hard to bring in another talented class. When asked about this incoming class, Fletcher had this to say: "This incoming group has us excited. They haven't even arrived on campus yet, but the conversations, the film, and the resumes tell you everything—you can just feel the level they're going to bring. We've got national champions, international players, D2 transfers, and guys coming from some of the top prep and club environments in the region. This class is going to push the returning group immediately, and we can't wait to get to work with them." Coach Fletcher also had some comments about this year's incoming players. Those players are as follows:
 

• #1 Diego Barcelos – A goalkeeper from Albufeira, Portugal who is majoring in Business Administration. "Diego brings strong positional discipline, great footwork, and quick reactions. Diego's ability to play out with both feet fits perfectly with how we want to build from the back, and his confidence brings calm to the defenders around him."
• #10 Shafi Ibrahim - A forward from Kimball Union Academy and Lewiston, Maine, who is majoring in Elementary Education. "Shafi is a high-level attacking player who we believe will be one of the best first years in the region. He's got the rare combination of technical sharpness, creative flair, and clinical finishing"
• #19 Justin Sukdeo – A defender from Warwick, Bermuda who is majoring in Sport Management. "Justin is a full Bermuda national team defender who is left-footed and is one of the most composed players we've seen in possession. His international experience will be a major asset in the defensive unit."
• #21 Serafin Garcia – An attacking wingback from Don Bosco, Panama, who is majoring in Business Administration. "Serafin has an excellent left foot, is strong on the dribble, and can unlock defensive blocks with a clever pass or a change of pace. He brings offensive instincts to the wide areas and isn't afraid to take risks in the final third."
• #28 T'syi Showers – A versatile midfielder from Warwick, Bermuda, who is majoring in Physical and Health Education. "T'syi is a full Bermuda international who is quick, direct, and has a great engine. He brings international-level experience and composure, and he's able to influence the game in multiple phases."
• #44 Brynjar Johannsson - A central defender from Kopavogur, Iceland, who is majoring in Marketing Management. "Brynjar is a 6'5 transfer from a Division II program whose presence completely changes how we're able to play. He's calm under pressure, plays penetrating passes out of the back, and organizes the line with maturity."
• #47 Ordi Bimvy – A midfielder from Lewiston, Maine, who is majoring in Computer Science. "Ordi is an incoming CMCC transfer and is one of the most technically gifted players in the group. He was recognized as an all American in his time at CMCC. His creativity and unpredictability in the final third give us another layer of attacking threat.
• #85 Jeremiah Gomez – Another midfielder from Old Orchard Beach, Maine, who is majoring in Business Administration. "Jeremiah is another transfer from CMCC, where he was a USCAA National Champion and Co-Player of the Year. Jeremiah is a classic box-to-box midfielder—tireless, physical, and disciplined.
• #96 Kevin Segura – A defensive midfielder from Norwalk Connecticut, who is majoring in Finance. "Kevin is a highly intelligent player who played for one of the top club programs in the region. His addition gives us the ability to control games from deeper areas and evolve tactically as a team.
• #98 Caleb Russo – A goalkeeper from Brookfield, New Hampshire, who is majoring Business Administration. "A transfer from Regis College, Caleb is another strong addition to the goalkeeper group. He's vocal, composed, and reads the game well. His presence makes this the most competitive goalkeeper unit we've had in recent years."

 
When asked who are three student athletes that he expects to make a big impact this season, Fletcher gave three names and some comments about each. Those players are as follows:
 

• #99 Jamie Fischer – A sophomore goalkeeper from Dubendorf, Switzerland, who is majoring in Business Administration. Last season Fischer earned the NAC Rookie of the Year award last season, the NAC Tournament's MVP, made NAC All-Conference East Division First Team, and earned NAC Defensive Player of the Week three times, all in his first year. "Jamie has elite shot-stopping ability, commands his box with confidence, and brings a calm, composed presence to the back line. His distribution has also taken a major step forward, which allows us to play out more effectively."
• #8 Micky Woodrow – A senior midfielder from Udenhout, Netherlands, who is majoring in Criminal Justice. Last season Woodrow earned NAC All-Conference Second Team honors, started in 18 games, scored five goals, and provided seven assists. "Micky has a high tactical IQ and thrives in tight spaces, making him invaluable in our buildup phase. Micky's ability to break lines with his passing, read pressure, and cover ground defensively gives us flexibility in both transition and possession phases. This season we'll lean on him to set the tempo and keep us balanced on both sides of the ball."
• #14 David Ivarsson – A junior attacker from Reykjavik, Iceland, who is majoring in Marketing Management. Last season Ivarsson earned NAC East Division First Team All-Conference, was named to the USC All-Region Third Team, scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in 16 games started. "David is quick, technical, and fearless going at defenders in 1v1 situations. David has the rare ability to both score and create goals, and we expect him to be our leader in the final third this season. His movement off the ball pulls defenses apart, and his composure in front of goal gives us a reliable finisher."

 
Looking ahead to this upcoming season, Coach Fletcher pointed out the following three games as "ones to watch".

• Wednesday, September 3^rd, @ Colby College - 7:30 PM – Elm City Cup - This match serves as a cross-town rivalry; the team will look to take home the Elm City Cup after coming up short last season.
• Sunday, October 5^th, @ Middlebury College – 2:00 PM – Middlebury was last season's #1 ranked team in the country for Division III, they'll be a tough test on the road.
• Saturday, September 27^th VS Maine Maritime Academy – 3:30 PM – Homecoming/Senior Day – A rematch of last year's NAC East Finals, sure to be a physical battle in what will be this year's homecoming match.

 
Coach Fletcher was also asked about his main goals for the team this season, and had this to say: "Last fall, we brought home our seventh North Atlantic Conference Championship, and in doing so, reestablished the standard that's been built at Thomas over the past decade. This program has a proud history of winning, and now we've returned to a place where conference titles are the expectation—not the goal. Our next step is clear: perform on the national stage. The NCAA Tournament loss last year was a humbling moment. We competed, but we weren't clinical enough in the biggest moments. That experience taught us a lot—what the margins look like at the national level and what it takes to go further. Everything we're doing this season is about closing that gap and advancing in November. From a development standpoint, the focus is on intentional growth. We're challenging every player to elevate their game—technically, tactically, physically, and mentally. That means sharper decision-making, faster recovery in transition, cleaner touches under pressure, and a higher understanding of their role in our system. It's not about just making the roster—it's about impacting games."
 
Men's Soccer will begin their season in a scrimmage against Upper Royalty FC, a UPSL soccer team based in Lewiston, Maine. The game will be held at Smith Field in Waterville on August 19^th. Kick-off is set for 7:00 PM.