BRIDGEPORT — The Mountain East Conference announced its 2025 men’s soccer all-conference teams and major award winners following a vote of the league’s head coaches. The University of Charleston, ranked No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll and unbeaten on the season, swept the four major honors. 

UC’s Sam Newell is the MEC Offensive Player of the Year. Newell, who is from the United Kingdom, has been a key piece to the Golden Eagles’ undefeated campaign with four goals and nine assists. The senior scored his first goal of the season in a 2-1 win at Concord, and then tallied all nine of his assists in the eight games of the regular season.

University of Charleston’s Franco Tradatti is the MEC Defensive Player of the Year. The senior from Argentina has started all 18 games on the Golden Eagles’ back line, which has surrendered only four goals this season. Tradatti has scored two goals and assisted on two others for undefeated UC, which has allowed the fewest goals among Division II teams this season. 

UC’s Martin Echarren is the MEC Freshman of the Year. The collegiate rookie from Argentina has tallied seven goals in 18 appearances (16 starts), and was twice named MEC Player of the Week. Echarren notched game-winners against Salem, West Liberty, and Wheeling, the latter of which was a two-goal performance for the undefeated and nationally ranked Golden Eagles.

Charleston’s Daniel Smee is the MEC Coach of the Year. UC is 14-0-4 overall and 11-0-3 in the MEC entering postseason play. The Golden Eagles are D-II’s top-ranked team a year after reaching the national championship game. Smee is now a five-time MEC Coach of the Year, and this past season was also voted the MEC Men’s Sports Coach of the Year after leading UC to the national runner-up.