Men’s Soccer Newsletter: Spring 2026
Greetings from the Bates campus! I hope you’re enjoying the start of spring weather as much as we are in Lewiston. It has been an action-packed winter semester on campus. Read below to learn more about our upcoming FBA Giving Challenge and the latest happenings with the program over the last few months.
FBA Giving Challenge | May 7
Mark your calendars for our FBA Giving Challenge on May 7! We are aiming to raise $40,000 for the Men’s Soccer Program, with over 100 total donors. Due to our committed alumni, we have already gained sizeable matching donations to help us achieve our goals. Your gifts will go directly back into the program in the following areas:
- Staffing (2nd Assistant Coach and Team Manager)
- Technology (PlayerData GPS Devices, Wyscout)
- Team Gear (Team Winter Jackets, Training Gear, 2XU Recovery Tights)
- Nutrition and Hydration Enhancements in the Locker Room
- Team Bonding Activities/Outings
- Alumni Events
Our momentum as a program is palpable. Your support will help us continue pushing for future postseason appearances, championships, and assist us in creating the most professional, competitive, and supportive environment possible within the Bates Men’s Soccer program. I hope you consider donating on May 7, and please follow along on our Instagram for live updates throughout the challenge!
Winter Semester at Bates
The student-athletes wrapped up their final exams in late April and are home for break now before returning to campus on May 4 for Short Term. There were 13 student-athletes on campus (first-years and sophomores) for our spring season, which consisted of 10 team practices and 6 leadership sessions.
The team showed strong levels of commitment during these practices, the early-morning speed-and-agility sessions, and in the weight room with Bates Strength and Conditioning Coach Kayleigh Fournier. This commitment and the work ethic displayed over the last 3+ months are positive signs towards our continued on-field growth in the fall.
We capped off the spring season by attending the Hearts of Pine home opener as a team on April 11. This was a fun team-bonding event and a chance to see a professional soccer match in our home state!
Bobcats in the Community
Outside of the academic workload and our spring season, the team has been strongly involved in the Lewiston community this spring. We hosted the Lewiston High School Boys Soccer team on campus, in partnership with Bates Admission, in early April. This was a phenomenal day where we got to show the LHS soccer team around the Bates campus, eat lunch together in Commons, and answer questions about the college recruitment process. Additionally, the team volunteered at the YWCA after-school program and the Gather to Grow food pantry in Lewiston during the winter semester.
Bobcats Abroad!
Our 6 juniors are studying abroad this spring! Read more below about who is abroad and where they are studying around the world.
Andrew Goddard ’27 (Captain): Andrew is studying at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Being immersed in new cultures and environments has been Andrew’s highlight of the semester.
Noah Greiff ’27 (Captain): Noah is studying in Florence, Italy (with Antonio and Luc), as part of the Syracuse University in Florence program. Visiting Mauro Kalaora ’26 in Istanbul has been Noah’s highlight of the semester.
Antonio Mesa ’27 (Captain): Antonio is studying in Florence, Italy (with Noah and Luc), as part of the Syracuse University in Florence program. Toni has enjoyed the everyday stuff in Florence, walking around, meeting new people, and truly connecting with the city.
Luc Parr ’27: Luc is studying economics in Florence, Italy (with Noah and Antonio), as part of the Syracuse University in Florence program. Luc’s top highlights have been traveling so much and meeting up with friends in new cities.
Benny Bogyo ’27: Benny is studying in Madrid, Spain, at IES Madrid. Visiting Mauro Kalaora ’26 in Istanbul with his classmates has been a highlight.
Craddock Bridge ’27: Craddock is in Lima, Peru, studying at IFSA Peru. His highlight this semester has been hiking in Huaraz.
Alumni Mentoring
Thanks to Aleks Marceau ’19, Owen Keleher ’22, and Hewitt Stevenson ’28 (Captain), we launched our second iteration of the Alumni Mentorship Program. We have grown our participating alumni base by over 30% from year to year and now have 111 Bobcats involved (91 alumni and 20 student-athletes). Thank you to all the alumni involved in the Mentorship Program, which will continue to be a staple for the Bates Men’s Soccer program for years to come. I hope you use the Alumni Database to connect with former teammates, old friends, and other Bates Soccer alumni in similar industries!
On April 10, we hosted our 2nd annual Alumni Mentoring Night and welcomed the following alumni back to campus: J.P. Fingado ‘90, David Shear ‘06, George Carr ‘07, and James Peter ‘22. The night consisted of networking, an alumni panel, a student-athlete Q&A, and dinner in small groups. The players (and coaches) were left impressed and inspired by the alumni, and their valuable insights into their time at Bates and career trajectories upon graduation. If you would like to be involved in our Alumni Mentorship Program, please reach out to me: bbrewster@bates.edu.
Closing Thoughts
At home, my wife (Becky) and I just celebrated our son’s (Kai) 1st birthday! He was not a huge fan of the birthday hat…Kai is already looking forward to being on the sidelines this fall at Russell St. Field!
We welcomed Filippo Begliardi Ghidini to the staff as a new assistant coach this winter. Filippo comes to Bates after coaching at Kaiser University in Florida last year. Prior to coaching, Filippo played professionally in Sweden, Finland, Italy, and Greece, and played collegiate soccer at Merrimack and UMass. Welcome to Lewiston, Filippo!
We return 9 of the 11 starters from our 2025 NESCAC QF game vs. Tufts and have made good strides this offseason, individually and collectively, to push forward again next fall. Furthermore, there are 9 incoming first-years joining the team in the fall of 2026 (announcements to come later in the summer), and the coaching staff has been busy on the recruiting trail this spring searching for the next class of Bobcats to join the Men’s Soccer family.
Committing to our standards and core values and building on our strong culture, identity, and mentality remain the focal points for us. This will be the foundation of our success (on and off the field), and will lead us to compete for NESCAC and NCAA Championships as a team next fall and for years to come.
Thank you for your commitment and support; it plays a substantial role in our successes.
Go ‘Cats!
Ben Brewster
Head Coach, Bates Men’s Soccer