Marist men’s soccer started out on a historic high in 2025. They defeated Stony Brook 1-0 on the road to open their year, drew Army at home in a game with plenty of opportunities to win, and proceeded to beat Fordham and Albany.
The Red Foxes (6-2-2, 2-2-0 MAAC) then drew LIU 1-1 on the road and finished their non-conference slate with a 4-0-2 record after a 1-0 win over Lehigh at home. Following their best start since at least 1999, the team received votes in the NCAA national poll.
Marist opened its MAAC season by thrashing Quinnipiac 5-2 at home, behind two goals from junior midfielder Kyle Evans and by the next week, sat 20th in the nation.
In their first game as a ranked team, the Red Foxes topped Mount St. Mary’s 2-1 on the road, extending the unbeaten streak to a program record eight games.
“We talk about it all year, play one game at a time,” said head coach Matt Viggiano.
Although appearing worse than in actuality, the next two games marked the beginning of a partial collapse. Now ranked at No. 17, Marist hosted Fairfield. The Stags came in, entered half tied at 1-1 and left with a 5-1 win. Despite Fairfield’s domination on the scoreline, Marist outshot the Stags, and the game could easily have gone in a different direction.
Three days later, looking to bounce back, the Red Foxes fell again. A 2-1 loss on the road to Niagara knocked them out of the rankings and sent them into an 11-day break with a lot to think about.
“It may have been a little bit of a burden on the guys,” said Viggiano. “It’s a place we haven’t been before… the highest-ranked any team had been in school history. It was an adjustment for the group to become the hunted. Both teams that we played, it was their World Cup Final.”
Marist rounds out their long and much-needed break now, after a week and a half to prepare for Sacred Heart. The Red Foxes looked great in almost all of their games, but over the last two matches, the results did not fall in their favor.
“We’ve got to play 90 minutes. That was the biggest thing [during] the last couple of games. We didn’t play a full 90,” said Viggiano, referencing the need to stay focused for the entire match.
Part of the Red Foxes’ success this year came from their ability to spread the wealth. Eight different players scored thus far, and nine different players assisted. Evans leads the pack with four, tied with sophomore defender-turned-midfielder Gijs Verheul.
“It was only a matter of time before he got going,” said Viggiano of Evans. “When he goes, we go.”
Verheul completely transformed as a player this year. He moved from a center-back role to one of a midfielder, allowing him to use his large frame and speed to cover ground and get into the attacking third.
“If you watch higher-level games, they all have somebody who can go and cover ground. He definitely brings that element; he could play anywhere in the country,” said Viggiano. “He’s got a heavy shot. He’s like a young stallion; he likes to run.”
Freshman attacker Adriano Iannello supported his side massively, scoring and assisting three goals apiece. His impact, however, spans far more than scoring; the timing of his goals greatly benefits Marist. All three of Iannello’s finishes have been game-winners, giving his Marist a weapon that enables them to close out these close games.
Swiss Army knife Arion Ulaj is another huge piece of the puzzle for Marist. Ulaj, a junior midfielder, played in numerous positions this year while supplying a pair of goals and three assists. He started most games at right midfield but has seen time at right back, center midfield and left midfield.
“He’s so responsible. He’s so selfless, he’ll do anything we ask him to do,” said Viggiano. “It’s been big that when there’s a bit of a leak, you can plug him anywhere.”
Through their first ten contests, Marist stood tall defensively. They conceded just 14 goals, two from penalties, good for fifth in the MAAC. The Red Foxes also only allow 12.4 shots per game and just five on goal per game. When the team calls upon graduate student goalkeeper Jamie Lowell, despite its rarity, he steps up to the task.
Looking ahead, six games remain on Marist’s schedule prior to the playoffs. Currently sitting at 2-2 in the MAAC and fifth in the standings, the Red Foxes need to figure out their form and regain their hot streaks. The past proves the team should return to their winning ways, but soccer is played on the field and not on paper.
Marist first must get through the Sacred Heart Pioneers, who sit at 4-0-1 in the MAAC and 5-3-3 overall. Despite the Red Foxes’ 4-1-1 record on the road this year, having a home game after a long break to prepare can only help them.
After SHU, the Red Foxes travel to take on Merrimack, the team third from the bottom in the MAAC. In fact, Marist plays all three of the conference’s bottom teams in their remaining six games. They host Rider after Merrimack; Rider’s winless four conference matchups leave them with a 1-7-3 overall record on the year.
“There’s nothing more fun than going on the road,” said Viggiano. “It’s you against the world,”
The Red Foxes travel to Siena just five days after Rider, which is a tough task. However, if Marist can win two of their next three games, they will head into the clash with momentum. Marist lost all three previous matchups against the Saints, which, paired with the storied rivalry between the teams, will provide extra motivation on the Red Fox front entering the upcoming game.
Marist hosts a winnable game after that against the Manhattan Jaspers, who currently sit 1-1-1 in the MAAC. The Red Foxes round out their schedule with the 12th team in the conference, Saint Peter’s. Although an away game, Marist should have no trouble penetrating the Peacocks.
The Red Foxes had a significant break to figure themselves out after two losses and a collapse in the rankings. Viggiano and his staff already prepared for Sacred Heart, a must-win game when looking at the standings. If Marist wants to host a playoff game, tonight is a must-win.
“We can turn the tables, refocus, and we’ll go beat the first-place team,” said Viggiano. “We gotta go back to what we were doing when we were winning games.”
Marist kicks off at Tenney Stadium against Sacred Heart at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night
Edited by Mike Duda and Ben Leeds
Photo Courtesy of Marist Athletics
Graphic by Jaylen Rizzo
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