Hughes Signs With Charleston Battery

AMHERST, Mass. - Former University of Massachusetts men's soccer forward Alec Hughes signed with the Charleston Battery of the USL Championship League on Monday.

Hughes, coming off his graduate season in 2024, racked up the accolades after leading the Atlantic 10 and ranking third in the nation in goals (16) and helping UMass get to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship. Hughes was first team All-Conference and named Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year for the third season in a row: becoming the only player to win the award in three consecutive seasons. He also is the only Atlantic 10 player to win both Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year in their career, and the only 3x Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year.

Hughes was named to United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-America in addition to First Team All-Region and Atlantic 10 First Team All-Conference. The forward tabbed New England Soccer Journal's DI Men's Player of the Year for his efforts in the 2024 campaign, including an All-ECAC First Team Selection.

After a stellar fifth year, Hughes carved his name into the record books. His 16 goals this season made him the new program leader in goals scored at UMass, totaling 51 to pass Hall of Famer Jeff Deren in addition to tying Deren and Adam Black for the third-most goals scored in a single season. He also ranked sixth in single season points with 33. The graduate forward tallied 110 points over the course of his collegiate career, becoming the second Minuteman to reach the century mark and placing him second in program history.

In December of 2024, Hughes was the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft by LAFC, becoming only the third Minuteman to play in the MLS behind Yosuke Hanya ('22) and Mike Butler ('97).

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Alec Hughes

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University of Massachusets Athletics