TYLER, TEXAS – The University of Texas at Tyler's men's soccer program has been selected 2022 Lone Star Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Poll, as announced by the conference office on Thursday morning.
The Patriots finished fifth overall in the LSC standings in the 2021 season and made their first appearance in the LSC Postseason Tournament after a dramatic finish to their final regular season game that saw a golden goal just 44 seconds into overtime.
Defending conference champion Midwestern State claimed the top spot in the preseason poll, garnering 245 points and 15 first place votes. Just behind the Mustangs is West Texas A&M with 230 points and seven first place votes.
St. Mary's comes into the season ranked as the third team in the preseason poll, earning 199 points and three first place votes. The final team ranked above the Patriots is Lubbock Christian, who had 162 points and one first place vote.
In addition to the preseason poll, three players were recognized with preseason player of the year awards. Mere Escobar and Marc-Antoine Huzen of Midwestern State earned Preseason Offensive and Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year honors, while Payton Franklin of DBU earned Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Headlining the returners for head coach
Kenny Jones will be
Sergio Sola,
Shane Popieluch,
Mathias Eriksen, and
Birkir Eydal. Sola, Popieluch, and Eriksen each started all 17 games last season for the Patriots, and Eydal was an All-LSC Second Team selection.
Sola returns as the leading goal scorer for UT Tyler last season with six, and Popieluch lead the program in assists with five. Eriksen returns in net after posting 60 total saves over the year and posting four shutouts.
Coach Jones and the Patriots also will bring in a wealth of new talent to the program as they look to take the next step forward in the conference race. That race will begin on home turf, as six of the first seven games of the season will take place at Citizens 1
st Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex, where the Patriots posted a strong 6-1 record in 2021.
UT Tyler is set to begin their season on August 25
th as they will take on Texas A&M-Texarkana at Citizens 1
st Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex at 7:30 p.m.
The complete 2022 LSC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll can be found below.
| Rank |
School |
1st Place Votes |
Total |
| 1. |
Midwestern State |
15 |
245 |
| 2. |
West Texas A&M |
7 |
230 |
| 3. |
St. Mary's |
3 |
199 |
| 4. |
Lubbock Christian |
1 |
162 |
| 5. |
UT Tyler |
|
153 |
| 6. |
Texas A&M-International |
|
128 |
| 7. |
UT Permian Basin |
|
100 |
| 8. |
Oklahoma Christian |
|
83 |
| 9. |
DBU |
|
78 |
| 10. |
Eastern New Mexico |
|
52 |
