DALLAS, Texas – Hardin-Simmons is predicted to win the 2025 American Southwest Conference Champion title after gathering 29 points and five first-place votes in the 2025 ASC Preseason Women’s Soccer Poll, released Thursday. Conference head coaches and sports information directors eligible for postseason play voted on the order of finish.
Hardin-Simmons junior forward Lexi Templin was selected Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Cru senior defender Malyn Martinson was selected Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Templin was All-ASC First Team and ASC Offensive Player of the Year in 2024. She led the league with 16 goals and seven game-winners while adding five assists. Martinson was All-ASC First Team and selected ASC Co-Defensive Player of the Year for the 2024 campaign. She spent 1,653 minutes on a backline that allowed just 12 goals on the season and recorded nine shutouts.
Hardin-Simmons won the ASC Regular Season title and ASC Championship last season with an 8-0 conference record. The Cowgirls posted a 17-2-2 overall record and led the ASC in goals per game (3.0) and ranked second in goals against per game (.71).
Mary Hardin-Baylor notched the remaining three first place votes and was selected second with 27 points. The Cru posted a 13-4-2 record and 6-2 conference record last season. Howard Payne comes in third with 13 points after going 8-10-1 last season with a 3-5 conference mark. East Texas Baptist was predicted fourth with 11 points after a season at 6-11-1 overall and 3-5 in the ASC.
12 soccer players were tabbed by coaches on the 2025 ASC Women’s Soccer Players to Watch List. This group includes: 2024 ASC Co-Defensive Players of the Year, Malyn Martinson (UMHB) and Kalea Willis (HSU), 2024 ASC Offensive Player of the Year, Lexi Templin (HSU) and 2024 Defensive Freshman of the Year, Keira Coughlin (ETBU).
Season play begins on August 29 for these teams.
2024 ASC Women’s Soccer Schedule
2025 ASC Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st votes) |
Pts. |
2024 Record (ASC) |
| 1. |
Hardin-Simmons (5) |
29 |
17-2-2 (8-0) |
| 2. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor (3) |
27 |
13-4-2 (6-2) |
| 3. |
Howard Payne |
13 |
8-10-1 (3-5) |
| 4. |
East Texas Baptist |
11 |
6-11-1 (3-5) |
2025 ASC Preseason Players of the Year
Offense: Lexi Templin, F, Jr., Hardin-Simmons
Defense: Malyn Martinson, D, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
2025 ASC Women’s Soccer Players to Watch
| Name |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Team |
Hometown |
| Landry Combs * |
GK |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
Lindale, Texas |
| Keira Coughlin * |
D |
So. |
East Texas Baptist |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| Brenna Douthit * |
MF |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
Waxahachie, Texas |
| Mallory Duncan * |
D |
Sr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Round Rock, Texas |
| Belle Floyd |
CM |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Litchfield Park, Ariz. |
| Trinity Hoffmann |
F |
Jr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Highland Village, Texas |
| Alayna Lopez |
F |
So. |
Howard Payne |
Midlothian, Texas |
| Malyn Martinson * D |
D |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Cypress, Texas |
| Ella Ruff |
MF |
Jr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Dripping Springs, Texas |
| Grace Shurley * |
CM |
Fr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Shreveport, La. |
| Lexi Templin * O |
F |
Jr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
San Angelo, Texas |
| Kalea Willis * D |
D |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Fort Worth, Texas |
2024 All-ASC Selection *
2024 ASC Co-Defensive Player of the Year D
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 6 members throughout the season and during the ASC tournament.