Before the new year, there were serious doubts about the 2020-21 Division I men's soccer season actually unfolding. Like with most areas of life, the COVID-19 pandemic created palpable uncertainty.
But starting with a mid-February game between UConn and Sacred Heart, 18 teams around New England returned to action. Considering they all spent the fall season sidelined, it's been encouraging to see D-I soccer back – even with numerous stops and starts.
The end product is New Hampshire (America East three-peat) and UMass (at-large bid) gearing up for NCAA tournament runs, while other locals carry title-chasing aspirations as well. It's cliché to say, but the spring has flown by.
With a months-long body of work to assess, we've compiled our Best XI for D-I men's soccer in New England. The team is organized in a 4-4-2 formation and includes a seven-player bench to replicate an 18-man matchday roster. Check it out below: