DALLAS, Texas – Hardin-Simmons and Mary Hardin-Baylor share the top spot in the 2025 American Southwest Conference Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll with 26 points each, released Wednesday. Conference head coaches and sports information directors eligible for postseason play voted on the order of finish.
East Texas Baptist sophomore midfielder Junior Lopez was selected Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Cru junior defender Dylan Vadnais was Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Lopez was named the 2024 Offensive Player of the Year and All-ASC First Team last season, leading the league with 10 goals. He added two assists while starting 18 games with 22 of 38 shots on goal. Vadnais was All-ASC First Team in 2024, as he totaled 1324 minutes on a backline that held a 1.16 goals against average. He also recorded a goal with four of six shots on frame.
Hardin-Simmons won the ASC Championship title last season and posted a 6-2 conference record. The Cowboys posted a 12-6-2 overall record while leading the league with a .781 save percentage. Hardin-Simmons received four first-place votes in the poll.
Mary Hardin-Baylor earned the 2024 Regular Season Title as they posted a 10-6-3 record and 7-0-1 conference record last season. The Cru received three first-place votes in the poll.
East Texas Baptist comes in third with 19 points and the final first-place vote after going 8-10-1 last season with a 3-4-1 conference mark. Howard Payne was predicted fourth with nine points.
11 soccer players were tabbed by coaches on the 2025 ASC Men’s Soccer Players to Watch List. This group includes: 2024 ASC Offensive Player of the Year, Junior Lopez (ETBU) and 2024 Defensive Freshman of the Year, Ryan Lord (ETBU).
Season play begins on August 29 for these teams.
2025 ASC Men’s Soccer Schedule
2025 ASC Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st votes) |
Pts. |
2024 Record (ASC) |
| 1. |
Hardin-Simmons (4) |
26 |
12-6-2 (6-2) |
| 1. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor (3) |
26 |
10-6-3 (7-0-1) |
| 3. |
East Texas Baptist (1) |
19 |
8-10-1 (3-4-1) |
| 4. |
Howard Payne |
9 |
0-15-4 (0-7-1) |
2025 ASC Preseason Players of the Year
Offense: Junior Lopez, MF, So., East Texas Baptist
Defense: Dylan Vadnais, D, Jr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
2025 ASC Men’s Soccer Players to Watch
| Name |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Team |
Hometown |
| Deaven Connelly * |
D |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
Burleson, Texas |
| Dylan Garcia * |
F |
Jr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Clovis, Calif. |
| Jerron Garcia |
CM |
Jr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Midland, Texas |
| Junior Lopez * O |
MF |
So. |
East Texas Baptist |
Lufkin, Texas |
| Ryan Lord * DF |
GK |
So. |
East Texas Baptist |
Fate, Texas |
| Karsen Macias * |
F |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Arlington, Texas |
| Ethan Mauldin * |
F |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
Weatherford, Texas |
| Aston Riedel * |
D |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
Rosenburg, Texas |
| Dylan Vadnais * |
D |
Jr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Comfort, Texas |
| Daniel Villagomez * |
CM |
So. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Waco, Texas |
| James Webb * |
F |
So. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Waco, Texas |
2024 All-ASC Selection *
2024 ASC Offensive Player of the Year O
2024 ASC Defensive Freshman of the Year DF
Wilson is the official soccer ball of American Southwest Conference and used by all four members throughout the season and during the ASC tournament.