ARLINGTON, Va. -- Marymount men's soccer has been selected as the favorite to win the 2026 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Championship, according to the AEC men's soccer preseason poll.

The Saints earned 25 total points and five first-place votes, finishing ahead of Saint Elizabeth (18 points), Immaculata (16), Gwynedd Mercy (14) and Centenary and Pratt. Gwynedd Mercy received the other first-place vote.

Marymount finished the 2025 season with a 9-8-4 overall record and a 4-2-1 mark in conference play. The Saints advanced to the AEC Championship following a 3-1 semifinal victory over Marywood before falling 2-0 to Neumann in the title match. Marymount will look to reclaim the conference championship for the first time since 2022.

Erick Shoetter-Rojas returns for the Saints after leading the team with 10 goals in 2025, ranking second on the squad. The forward earned First Team All-AEC honors and was named to the All-Region Fourth Team for the second time in his career.

Alex Rendon Benitez also returns after earning Second Team All-AEC honors as a defender last season. He will look to continue serving as a key contributor to the Saints' back line.

Marymount opens the 2026 season with a road test against No. 6 Dickinson on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 4 p.m. The Saints will host their first home match at Long Bridge Park on Friday, Sept. 4, at 6 p.m.

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