St. Mary's picked to repeat as LSC Men's Soccer champion; Voelker, Ferrer, Schlaefli earn preseason player of the year honors
St. Mary's is predicted to repeat as Lone Star Conference men's soccer champions according to the 2023 preseason poll, it was announced on Wednesday (Aug. 16). St. Mary's Andrick Ferrer and Andre Schlaefli also claimed preseason player of the year honors along with DBU's Peyton Voelker.
The preseason poll and preseason players of the year are voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
St. Mary's totaled 283 points and collected 22 of the possible 30 first-place votes. Head coach Johnny Clifford's Rattlers were 12-2-6 overall and 7-0-2 in league play last season. They reached the third round of the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship. St. Mary's also won the LSC in 2019.
Defending LSC tournament champion Midwestern State was picked as the conference runner-up with 242 points and three first-place votes. The Mustangs, who have won a record 10 LSC crowns, finished 13-6-3 overall last season.
Five time league champion West Texas A&M was the third-place selection with 237 points, followed by DBU (207 points), Oklahoma Christian (192 points), Lubbock Christian (155 points), UT Tyler (114 points), Texas A&M International (88 points), St. Edward's (75 points) and Eastern New Mexico (57 points). WT picked up three first-place votes, while DBU landed the final two.
Voelker was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The junior forward from Timnath, Colo. tied for the LSC lead with 11 goals – three game-winners – in 2022. He also added one assist.
Ferrer was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The junior from Buffalo, N.Y. spearheaded a unit that allowed just eight goals all season. The next closest team allowed 14.
Schlaefli was named Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. The senior from Katy, Texas led the league in shutouts (12), goals against average (.380) and save percentage (.875)
Additionally, 25 players – nine offensive, eight defensive, and eight goalkeepers – were selected for the LSC Men's Soccer Preseason Players to Watch list. The student-athletes were nominated by their member institution.
The LSC men's soccer season begins over the Aug. 31-Sept. 2 weekend. The six-team LSC Men's Soccer Championship will be held Nov. 7 (quarterfinals), Nov. 10 (semifinals) and Nov. 10 (final). The top two seeds receive a first-round bye. The quarterfinals will be held on campus, while the semifinals and title match will be hosted by the No. 1 seed.
2023 LSC MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL, AWARDS
Preseason Poll
Rank School 1st Total
1 St. Mary's 22 283
2 Midwestern State 3 242
3 West Texas A&M 3 237
4 DBU 2 207
5 Oklahoma Christian 192
6 Lubbock Christian 155
7 UT Tyler 114
8 Texas A&M International 88
9 St. Edward's 75
10 Eastern New Mexico 57
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Peyton Voelker, F, Jr., DBU
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Andrick Ferrer, D, Jr., St. Mary's
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Andre Schlaefli, GK, Sr., St. Mary's
Offensive Players to Watch
Name School Class Pos. Major Hometown
Peyton Voelker DBU Jr. F Bus. Administration Timnath, Colo.
Alexandre Meres Eastern New Mexico So. F Undecided Le Bourget, France
Pablo Galietero Diez Lubbock Christian Gr. F Masters in Edu. Madrid, Spain
Mere Escobar Midwestern State Sr. F Bus. Management Austin, Texas
Isaias Silva Oklahoma Christian Jr. F Criminal Justice Mustang, Okla.
Dani Gimena St. Mary's Sr. MF International Bus. Ondara, Alicante Spain
Felipe Garcia Texas A&M International Jr. F Undecided Irving, Texas
Lukas Paulun UT Tyler Sr. MF Business Admin. Essen, Germany
Chris Palomino West Texas A&M Jr. F Business Houston, Texas
Defensive Players to Watch
Name School Class Major Hometown
Tis Sula Eastern New Mexico So. Undecided Parma, Italy
Jelle Born Lubbock Christian Sr. Business Eindhoven, Netherlands
Tristian Adams Midwestern State Sr. Sport & Leisure Studies San Diego, Calif.
Elliott Forestier Oklahoma Christian So. Exercise Science Rozelle, Australia
Andrick Ferrer St. Mary's Jr. Management Buffalo, N.Y.
Magnus Poulsen Texas A&M International Sr. Undecided Silkeborg, Denmark
Nori Ito UT Tyler Gr. Business Admin. Tokyo, Japan
Bryan Martinez West Texas A&M Sr. Business Houston, Texas
Goalkeepers to Watch
Name School Class Major Hometown
Alexander Knepper DBU Gr. MBA in Management Tulsa, Okla.
Paul Waschkau Eastern New Mexico So. Undecided Düsseldorf, Germany
Tom Miles Lubbock Christian Jr. Psychology Epsom, England
Adam Braman Midwestern State Jr. Applied Arts & Sciences Mercer Island, Wash.
Daniel Hosier Oklahoma Christian So. Exercise Science Hemel Hempstead, England
Andre Schlaefi St. Mary's Sr. Accounting Katy, Texas
Gal Grodeski Texas A&M International Undecided
Asaf Kristal West Texas A&M So. Psychology Tel Aviv, Israel
