Westfield, Mass.— Salem State is slated to win the 2021 MASCAC Men's Soccer Championship as selected by the eight coaches from around the league after COVID cancelled the 2020 season.

Coming in atop the poll, the Vikings received five first place votes for 47 points. They finished 2019 with a 6-0-1 record for a share of the MASCAC regular season title. Salem State returns All-Conference midfielder Lucas Amaral who netted five goals and five assists during his sophomore season. 

Tied for second with 41 points are Bridgewater State and Framingham State. The Bears had three wins in conference action while the Rams had the other share of the 2019 regular season crown with a 6-0-1 mark. Back on the pitch, Bridgewater State's Kevin Roberts collected three goals and three assists for nine points, including one game-winner in 2019. For Framingham State, Jared Nardizzi returns after helping the Rams to the tournament title in 2019 while netting a goal and assist that season.  

Sitting in a tie for fourth is Westfield State and Worcester State with 25 points. Both teams finished with three MASCAC wins during the 2019 season. Coming back for the Owls is Alberto Burgos Jr. who helped lead a defense that only allowed a .116 shooting percentage, had three shutouts while he scored a goal during the 2019 season. Defender Joe Donnelly is back for the Lancers after a 2019 campaign that saw the team hold opponents to a .093 shooting percentage and .472 shot on goals percentage while netting an assist.   

Tying for the sixth position with 16 points are Fitchburg State and Massachusetts Maritime. The Falcons earned three victories and the Buccaneers one during the 2019 league slate. Raphael Coelho returns for Fitchburg State after he assisted on four goals, including an assist on the game-winner in the 3-2 win over Plymouth State. Massachusetts Maritime welcomes back Shane MacNeil who found the back of the net twice in 2019, including the game-tying goal in the 1-1 tie with Nichols.

With the eighth spot in the 2021 preseason poll is MCLA. The Trailblazers' Sam Edge returns between the pipes after registering a 2.38 GAA, .701 save percentage with 89 saves and three wins, including two shutouts during the 2019 season.

Kicking off the men's soccer season with non-conference competition, all eight MASCAC schools return to the pitch on September 1. Find all the game info and video at mascac.com and mascac.tv.