Women’s Soccer — Red Foxes Make a Name for Themselves
In the MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, nobody gave Marist a chance. The Red Foxes got picked to finish 10th, and no one on the roster received a Preseason All-MAAC selection. The Red Foxes used this as fuel, earning a playoff spot for the first time since 2022. Marist broke team records and only lost two matches in conference play.
At the beginning of the season, the preseason poll appeared accurate as the Red Foxes went 1-5 in non-conference play, and their defense gave up over two goals per game.
Marist looked like they were on their way to another difficult season; however, after non-conference play, the team decided to start relying on their young core, leading to them playing their best soccer of the season.
The Red Foxes went on an incredible run, not losing a match in September, going 4-0-2. They extended their unbeaten streak to nine, eclipsing the school record of seven.
The squad was led by their underclassmen, especially sophomore forward Gabby Tirado, who finished with seven goals and four assists, and freshman forward Ella Bryan, who scored three goals.
The defense also elevated its game in conference play, pitching four shutouts, including one against back-to-back MAAC champion Fairfield. Senior goalkeeper Maddie Catalanotti held down the net, posting a 0.722 save percentage.
Marist’s hot start in conference play put them in position to clinch a home playoff game with a win against the last-place Rider Broncs in the final game of the regular season. The Red Foxes blew the opportunity as the Broncs won 1-0, completely shutting down the Marist offense.
This loss forced Marist to travel to Buffalo for its MAAC quarterfinal matchup against Canisius. The Golden Griffins recorded a shutout, ending the Red Foxes’ best season since 2019.
Marist finished with its most regular-season wins since 2019, ending up with a 6-7-5 record. Despite losing four seniors, the Red Foxes return a promising young core and an established culture to build around heading into the 2026 season.
Youth Drives Marist Volleyball’s Bounceback Season
After a 3-25 2024 season, Marist volleyball put that year behind them and quietly had a strong bounce-back season. The team finished the season with a 10-20 (8-10 MAAC) record, falling just one game short of a playoff berth.
The team depended largely on their outside hitters, in particular, junior Sara Dasic and freshman Mallory Reck; Dasic and Reck were selected to the all-MAAC second team and rookie team, respectively. The two were the only players to surpass 200 kills and served as the backbone of the team’s success.
Marist stumbled through non-conference play, recording just one win in 11 matchups. The schedule featured many big-name opponents, with matchups against powerhouses like Mississippi State and West Virginia.
In conference play, Marist jumped out to a 4-1 record, climbing as high as fourth place. The Red Foxes completely flipped their lineup during conference play, relying on their young core. A pair of freshmen, opposite Elena Koute and right side Ava Lanzetta, emerged as impactful additions to their rotation.
The scorching start stalled when Marist traveled to Connecticut for its matchups against Fairfield and Sacred Heart. The Red Foxes dropped both games, but the loss to Sacred Heart was crucial; it dropped Marist out of the playoff picture, and the offense played one of its worst games of the season.
The next weekend brought a new challenge as Dasic suffered an ankle injury that affected her for the rest of the season. The injury forced Marist to completely change its offense, spreading the ball out while also relying on Reck more.
Despite the injury, Marist had a chance to sneak into the tournament, but they needed to win some key road games. The Red Foxes had a chance to control their own destiny, but dropped a match to the last-place Manhattan Jaspers.
The Red Foxes were officially eliminated from playoff contention with a 3-0 loss to Rider the following weekend. Marist finished 1-8 on the road in conference play, a huge factor in why they didn’t make the playoffs.
After the season ended, Marist decided to move on from head coach Sean Byron. The program is still searching for a new coach, but whoever comes in will have a strong young group to work with for the 2026 season.
Football — A Step in the Right Direction
In the second season of the Mike Willis era, Marist football took a step forward, finishing 5-7 and showing what the future could hold for the squad.
Marist leaned on its defense, holding its opponents under 20 points five times this season. The defense was led by the Red Fox secondary, most notably freshman safety Chase Hatton and sophomore safety Nate Robinson Jr. The tandem flew around the field, jumping in front of routes and making huge tackles.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Red Foxes moved away from their run-heavy approach. This year, everything started with redshirt junior quarterback Sonny Mannino.
Mannino threw for 1,818 yards and 11 passing touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing yards with 580. The quarterback’s top target, graduate student tight end Connor Hulstein, acted as the foundation for the Marist passing game. Hulstein finished with just under 600 receiving yards, and Mannino’s connection with him led to more opportunities for the rest of the offense.
One bad stretch cost the Red Foxes a chance to compete at the top of the Pioneer Football League (PFL). After a 3-2 start and a surprising win against San Diego, Marist dropped four consecutive games, three of them to PFL opponents.
Marist went on to lose its two games to Drake and St. Thomas by a combined score of 59, to wash away the Red Foxes’ hot start to the PFL season. However, Marist ended their season winning two out of their next three, showing they can compete with anyone in the PFL.
The Red Foxes now face the transfer portal, losing their leaders on both sides of the football, Mannino and Hatton.
The Marist season was a guide towards the future, but to take the next step, the Red Foxes will need to secure a strong 2026 recruiting class.
The Highs and Lows of the Men’s Soccer 2025 Season
Marist men’s soccer experienced a season filled with highs and lows. The team earned its first national ranking in program history, coming in as high as No. 17 in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I rankings. The rest of the season did not go the Red Foxes’ way, as the team fell short of the MAAC playoffs to end their season.
Marist started the season firing on all cylinders with a record of 6-0-2. After their first two wins in conference play, they earned a national ranking of 17. They finished undefeated in non-conference play for the first time this century.
Expectations were understandably high going into the middle of conference play, but things did not go as planned for the next two months. Marist fell apart, winning only one match in October. This stretch caused their season to come down to the final two games.
The Red Foxes hosted the Manhattan Jaspers, needing a win to give them a high chance to make the playoffs. Marist jumped on the board right away with a score from First Team All-MAAC junior midfielder Kyle Evans. Marist held on to a 1-0 lead for 89 minutes, but gave up a pivotal goal with just 20 seconds left, causing the game to end in a tie.
Although Marist won its next game against Saint Peter’s, their tie against the Jaspers prevented it from claiming a MAAC playoff spot.
The Red Foxes are losing a lot of important pieces to graduation and the portal. Graduate student center back Liam Evan is graduating, and his brother Kyle Evans is leaving with intentions to start his professional career. Marist is also losing one of its assist leaders, junior midfielder Arion Ulaj, to the transfer portal.
The Red Foxes showed they were capable of competing with the top teams in the country, but a handful of costly mistakes cost them an opportunity at a MAAC playoff run. Now, the coaching staff must retool their roster, filling out 10 roster spots and five starting positions to contend at the top of the MAAC.
Edited by Michael Schiavone and Ben Leeds
Graphic by Jaylen Rizzo
Photos by Marist Athletics
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