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 |
Fr. |
Undecided |
Holon, Israel |
| Asaf Kristal |
West Texas A&M |
So. |
Psychology |
Tel Aviv, Israel |