With the regular season halfway over, the SNHU Men’s Soccer team is gaining momentum and looking to secure a position in the playoffs. The Penmen have been a force to reckon with, thanks in part to standout performances from goalkeeper Preston Neal (’25) and forward Iago Perez (’26).
As the team approaches the second half of the season, Neal emphasizes the importance of maintaining their current momentum.
“We’re just past the halfway point of the regular season,” he says. “We need to take that momentum and carry it into our closing games, whether we are playing weak opponents or ranked opponents, it can’t change.”
Neal has been a key player on the defensive end, helping to solidify the Penmen’s backline.
“I do my best to keep the guys confident in me,” mentioned Neal. “At the end of the day, they’re the ones who are scoring goals and getting the results, but they get to look back and see that the goalie wasn’t giving up on anybody. It’s definitely a team effort but it’s nice to get some individual recognition.”
The team’s recent victory over Franklin Pierce has boosted their recognition this season, beating the longest streak in NCAA Division Two soccer history.
“I kept thinking that was for you guys,” said Perez about the most recent alumni who didn’t get the chance to beat this team. “It’s a big win, there was a good atmosphere and a lot of fans, so everything fell into place. Even though it was just three points, it felt like a bigger victory for everybody.”
He talked about what it felt like to get recognition for himself and the team.
“It feels good to see people actually pay attention to what you are doing. And it’s a rewarding feeling since it is a result of the team doing good,” said Perez.
“At the end of the day, you take a deep breath and understand that you won,” Neal said about the game against Franklin Pierce. “And if we see them again, which is likely since they’re a good team, we have the one up on them and we have the confidence.”
As the SNHU Men’s Soccer team continues its quest for the championship, using this momentum will be crucial to their success.