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University of Massachusets Athletics
Massachusetts Men’s Soccer to Join the Summit League
December 23, 2024 | Men's Soccer
The Minutemen will join the Summit League as an affiliate member on July 1, 2025.
AMHERST, Mass. – Coming off its first NCAA quarterfinal appearance since 2007, the University of Massachusetts men's soccer program will be joining the Summit League as an affiliate member, beginning on July 1, 2025.
"This is a great step forward for our men's soccer program, to be welcomed into a prominent league as an affiliate member," Massachusetts Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford said. "The Summit League has a nationally recognized men's soccer brand with great programs and will be a tough test for our Minutemen. We are grateful for Commissioner Fenton's leadership and the interest and the support from Summit League coaches, Athletic Directors and Presidents in adding our program."
The Minutemen will become the seventh men's soccer program in the league, joining the University of Denver, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the University of Nebraska Omaha, Oral Roberts University, the University of St. Thomas and the University of Delaware, a fellow affiliate member.
"It is a great day for UMass men's soccer, having been invited to join the Summit League, one of the nation's premier soccer conferences," added Massachusetts Head Coach Fran O'Leary. "We look forward to playing against some terrific teams and coaches and a special thanks to our Athletic Director, Ryan Bamford, for his countless hours of work spent on finding us a top conference to compete in."
The Summit League had a tremendously successful 2024 NCAA Tournament after qualifying two teams for the second consecutive season and holding the No. 3 overall RPI among the 22 Division I men's soccer conferences. The No. 3 national seed Denver Pioneers advanced to the College Cup for the second time in program history (2016) with a win over UMass in the quarterfinals, while Kansas City advanced to the third round for the first time in program history. A Summit League team has now won a first-round match in five consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
"Our men's soccer membership put together a historic 2024 season and adding a UMass program, that advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, will continue elevating the Summit League as a preeminent men's soccer conference," Summit League Commissioner Josh Fenton said. "I want to sincerely thank UMass Chancellor Dr. Javier Reyes and Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford for their collaboration and efforts to create this exciting new relationship."
The University of Massachusetts leaves the Atlantic 10 as a three-time conference champion and having claimed the regular-season title on five occasions. UMass has six NCAA Tournament appearances in total, advancing to the College Cup in 2007, and the Elite Eight in 2007 and 2024.
Massachusetts men's soccer has produced 20 All-Americans in program history and added major Atlantic 10 yearly award winners on seven occasions and earned United Soccer Coaches All-Region honors seven times. Last Friday (Dec. 20), graduate forward Alec Hughes was selected with the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft by the Los Angeles Football Club. Hughes joins LAFC after a historic five-year career with Massachusetts, having tallied a program-best 51 goals.
Massachusetts Athletics Conference Overview
The Massachusetts Athletics department accepted an invitation to join the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as a full member, beginning on July 1, 2025. UMass will compete in the Mid-American Conference in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, football, men's and women's indoor/outdoor track & field, women's lacrosse, women's soccer, softball, women's swimming and diving, women's tennis and rowing (announced on July 19, 2024).
The Massachusetts hockey program will remain in the Hockey East Association.
The Men's soccer program will joined the Summit League as an affiliate member and the men's lacrosse program will remain in the Atlantic 10 as an affiliate member. The men's swimming and diving program will compete in a 2026 league championship that will be announced in early 2025.
About The University of Massachusetts
The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic and technological challenges in our world.
About The Summit League
Headquartered in Sioux Falls, S.D., The Summit League is embarking on its 42nd year at the NCAA Division I level and offers 19 championship sports. The League's nine institutions have a combined enrollment of nearly 100,000 and include five located in top 60 U.S. metropolitan populations and two land-grant universities. Full-time member institutions are the University of Denver, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University, University of Nebraska Omaha, Oral Roberts University, University of St. Thomas, University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University.
"This is a great step forward for our men's soccer program, to be welcomed into a prominent league as an affiliate member," Massachusetts Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford said. "The Summit League has a nationally recognized men's soccer brand with great programs and will be a tough test for our Minutemen. We are grateful for Commissioner Fenton's leadership and the interest and the support from Summit League coaches, Athletic Directors and Presidents in adding our program."
The Minutemen will become the seventh men's soccer program in the league, joining the University of Denver, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the University of Nebraska Omaha, Oral Roberts University, the University of St. Thomas and the University of Delaware, a fellow affiliate member.
"It is a great day for UMass men's soccer, having been invited to join the Summit League, one of the nation's premier soccer conferences," added Massachusetts Head Coach Fran O'Leary. "We look forward to playing against some terrific teams and coaches and a special thanks to our Athletic Director, Ryan Bamford, for his countless hours of work spent on finding us a top conference to compete in."
The Summit League had a tremendously successful 2024 NCAA Tournament after qualifying two teams for the second consecutive season and holding the No. 3 overall RPI among the 22 Division I men's soccer conferences. The No. 3 national seed Denver Pioneers advanced to the College Cup for the second time in program history (2016) with a win over UMass in the quarterfinals, while Kansas City advanced to the third round for the first time in program history. A Summit League team has now won a first-round match in five consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
"Our men's soccer membership put together a historic 2024 season and adding a UMass program, that advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, will continue elevating the Summit League as a preeminent men's soccer conference," Summit League Commissioner Josh Fenton said. "I want to sincerely thank UMass Chancellor Dr. Javier Reyes and Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford for their collaboration and efforts to create this exciting new relationship."
The University of Massachusetts leaves the Atlantic 10 as a three-time conference champion and having claimed the regular-season title on five occasions. UMass has six NCAA Tournament appearances in total, advancing to the College Cup in 2007, and the Elite Eight in 2007 and 2024.
Massachusetts men's soccer has produced 20 All-Americans in program history and added major Atlantic 10 yearly award winners on seven occasions and earned United Soccer Coaches All-Region honors seven times. Last Friday (Dec. 20), graduate forward Alec Hughes was selected with the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft by the Los Angeles Football Club. Hughes joins LAFC after a historic five-year career with Massachusetts, having tallied a program-best 51 goals.
Massachusetts Athletics Conference Overview
The Massachusetts Athletics department accepted an invitation to join the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as a full member, beginning on July 1, 2025. UMass will compete in the Mid-American Conference in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, football, men's and women's indoor/outdoor track & field, women's lacrosse, women's soccer, softball, women's swimming and diving, women's tennis and rowing (announced on July 19, 2024).
The Massachusetts hockey program will remain in the Hockey East Association.
The Men's soccer program will joined the Summit League as an affiliate member and the men's lacrosse program will remain in the Atlantic 10 as an affiliate member. The men's swimming and diving program will compete in a 2026 league championship that will be announced in early 2025.
About The University of Massachusetts
The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic and technological challenges in our world.
About The Summit League
Headquartered in Sioux Falls, S.D., The Summit League is embarking on its 42nd year at the NCAA Division I level and offers 19 championship sports. The League's nine institutions have a combined enrollment of nearly 100,000 and include five located in top 60 U.S. metropolitan populations and two land-grant universities. Full-time member institutions are the University of Denver, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University, University of Nebraska Omaha, Oral Roberts University, University of St. Thomas, University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University.
-- UMassAthletics.com --
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