Nick Parakilas Named First-Team All Region

WESTFIELD, Mass. -  Westfield State University senior forward Nick Parakilas was named as a first-team all-region selection by the United Soccer Coaches, the organization released on Tuesday.

Parakilas was one of five forwards on the Region II first team, and the only Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference player to get the first team nod.

"It's an absolute honor" said Parakilas.  "I was looking at some of our records and realized it had been a long time since we've had someone named.   I'm grateful to play on this team and it's a really good feeling."

The All-Region selection is just the latest honor for Parakilas, who was selected as the MASCAC's offensive player of the year a few weeks ago, was the league's player of the week on four occasions, and ranks as the nation's second-leading goal scorer with 22 on the season.   His 22 goals and four assists for 48 points have him ranked third in points in NCAA Division III, and he was part of an Owls' offense that ranked third in the nation at 3.00 goals per game this year.

"I think the biggest difference this season was the ability to be able to play, and really we had the whole team healthy and playing together for most of the season.  The pieces just came together really well.   I was really proud of our team and we had a good season even though we didn't get as far as we would have liked at the end."

Westfield finished the 2025 season with a 10-4-4 overall record, 5-1-2 in the MASCAC, and won a first-round conference tournament matchup before bowing out in the semifinals after a pair of goals from Parakilas had staked the Owls to a 2-0 lead in the first 20 minutes of the match.

Parakilas played in just six games for the Owls in 2025 due to a foot injury, when he showed flashes of brilliance with three goals in his first game in a Westfield State uniform after transferring in, and scored five goals through six matches before being sidelined.

He credited Westfield State's athletic training and strength and conditioning staff for helping him achieve peak performance this season.

"Tucker (Bachand) is a great strength coach and had great programs for us, and LJ  (trainer Lauren Jimison) was a really big help, I was in the training room every day before and after games and practices and she really helped to keep me sharp and healthy and I'm grateful for that," said Parakilas.

While a senior academically as a physical education major, who plans to teach after graduation, Parakilas has another season of eligibility remaining and plans to return in the fall.

"I really wanted us to go back-to-back to the NCAA tournament, but we were a little bit unlucky at the end of the season," said Parakilas.  "Next year we are still going to be a very good team, and we will be hungry for both the MASCAC and NCAA tournaments."