SMITHFIELD, R.I. -  The Bryant University Men's Soccer team was picked first in the America East Preseason Poll, with a league high five players being named Preseason All-Conference.

The Bulldogs finished top of the preseason poll with 47 points, three higher than second place Vermont. Bryant also received six of the eight first place votes. The Bulldogs return 12 members from a squad that finished 17-2-3 overall and ended the season ranked #10 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. The Black and Gold reached the second round of the NCAA tournament, and reached the America East Championship game for a third-straight season.

Defenders Jojo Ocran (Baltimore, Md.)  and Christien Merritt (Montclair, N.J.), midfielders Paco Fernandez (Sevilla, Spain) and Fernando Delgado (Madrid, Spain), and forward Brady Geho (Westminster, Md.) were all named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.

Ocran joins Bryant after a stellar 2025 season in which he was named to the America East First Team at UMBC. The Baltimore, Md., native started all 17 games he played, scoring twice in 1550 minutes of action. Ocran appeared in 40 total games in his three years at UMBC.

Merritt returns for his fifth season for the Black and Gold after performing well for a defensive line that allowed only eight goals during the 2025 regular season. Merritt appeared in 21 games, starting in 19, and has appeared in 39 over his Bryant career.

Fernandez aims to repeat the success of 2025 campaign, in which he was named America East Midfielder of the Year and both First Team All-Northeast and America East. Fernandez appeared in 22 games, starting 20 in his first season for the Bulldogs. He totaled 16 points on the year, scoring six goals and providing four assists. He finished the season ranked No. 66 on Top Drawer Soccer's Postseason Top-100.

Delgado appeared in 11 games for the Black and Gold last season, starting five. Recorded a SOG% of 57.1%, including games against Lafayette and No. 20 Massachusetts in which he slotted back-to-back game-winning goals. Delgado finished the campaign with two goals and an assist, good for five points.

Geho joins the Black and Gold following a successful 2025 campaign that saw him named to the America East Second Team and America East All-Tournament Team with UMBC. Geho appeared in 17 games (16 starts) scoring a team high seven goals and assisting twice. He was named America East Player of the Week (9/2/25) after scoring twice and providing an assist vs. Niagara. Geho notched his second brace of the season on Halloween, scoring twice in a 4-0 win over Binghamton. Beginning his career with two seasons at St. John's, Geho has appeared in 45 matches, starting 21. He has scored 12 goals and assisted three times, totaling 27 points for his career.

Bryant opens the season on Thursday, August 20 vs. UMass at Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, R.I. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 pm.\

Men's Preseason Poll
Pl. School Points
1. Bryant 47 (6)
2. Vermont 44 (2)
3. New Hampshire 34
4. UAlbany 33
5. UMBC 27
6. UMass Lowell 19
7. NJIT 12
8. Binghamton 8
 
Men's Preseason All-Conference
F Xahvi DeRoza (New Hampshire)
F Brady Geho (Bryant)
F Ivar Gissurarson (UAlbany)
F David Ismail (Vermont)
M Alexander Clive (UAlbany)
M Fernando Delgado (Bryant)
M Paco Fernandez (Bryant)
D Rodrigo Hermelo (UAlbany)
D Christien Merritt (Bryant)
D Jojo Ocran (Bryant)
D Max Voigt (New Hampshire)
GK Niklas Herceg (Vermont)