ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College men's soccer team placed three student-athletes on the 2025 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III All-Region IX first team, the organization announced today. Senior defender Nick Kent (St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Louis Park), senior midfielder Ondieki Maina (Kensington, Calif./El Cerrito) and junior midfielder Kasdan Blattman (San Jose, Calif./Bellarmine) all were included on the first team.

The trio led Macalester to the MIAC Playoff title and the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Tournament en route to finishing with a 17-5 record.

This is the third All-Region honor for Kent, who last month also became the 19th men's soccer player in recorded conference history to be selected to four consecutive All-MIAC squads. He is one of three Scots to be named All-Region three times, joining former teammate Hans Haenicke '25 and Macalester Hall of Famer Nick Adams '96. The Scots' central defender, Kent has contributed to seven shutouts while limiting opponents' scoring chances with his strong play. He scored a goal in Macalester's 2-0 victory over Nebraska Wesleyan on Sept. 13. In 69 games, Kent has three goals and three assists for nine points in his outstanding career at Macalester.

Maina makes his debut on the All-Region team after leading the Scots with nine goals and 10 assists for 28 points to rank third in the MIAC in assists and ninth in points. He especially turned it on at the end of the season with points in each of his last eight games leading up to the NCAA Tournament. In the final regular season game against Bethel, Maina tallied two goals and two assists in a 5-1 victory that clinched second place in the MIAC. He assisted on both goals in a 2-1 win over Gustavus in the semifinals of the MIAC Playoffs, then found the net twice to lead Macalester past No. 4 St. Olaf, 4-1 in the title game. Perhaps Maina's biggest goal was scored in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, when his goal in the 81st minute broke a 1-1 tie and proved to be the game-winner against UW-Eau Claire. In 61 career games, Maina has 12 goals and 15 assists for 39 points.

Blattman is back on the All-Region team after making the second team last season. Also an All-MIAC selection this year, he registered career-bests of six goals and 12 assists for 24 points, ranking second in the MIAC in assists. Blattman also scored twice in the win over Bethel and hit a laser into the goal against St. Olaf to put Macalester up 3-0 in the MIAC final. He also stood out in the NCAA Tournament, registering an assist in the win over Illinois Wesleyan and scoring from the penalty spot in the victory over UW-Eau Claire. Blattman has 11 goals and 20 assists in 59 games as a Scot.

Click here to view the United Soccer Coaches All-Region teams from all 10 NCAA Division III regions.