New Braunfels, Texas – Mary Hardin-Baylor has been picked to finish first in the 2026 American Southwest Conference Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll following a vote by conference head coaches and sports information directors.
The Cru received 10 first-place votes and look to repeat as ASC regular-season champions after claiming the title in 2025. Sophomore Hughston Taggart, the 2025 ASC Goalkeeper of the Year, returns as a player to watch alongside teammate Alex Bethke who was selected as the 2026 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
Hardin-Simmons, the 2025 ASC Tournament champion, was selected to finish second in the 2026 preseason standings. The Cowboys earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament last season and enter 2026 under first-year head coach Austin Guest.
East Texas Baptist narrowly finished third in the preseason poll, just one point behind Hardin-Simmons. Tigers senior Jacob Wenzel was named the 2026 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Schreiner and McMurry finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the preseason standings. Schreiner’s Lewis Patterson returns after earning honorable mention honors last season.
Howard Payne rounds out the preseason poll in sixth place. The Yellow Jackets named Kolby Lara, Xzavier Saldana and Adrian Villa as Players to Watch entering the 2026 season.
2026 Preseason Poll
- Mary Hardin-Baylor, 69 (10)
- Hardin-Simmons, 53 (1)
- East Texas Baptist, 52 (1)
- Schreiner, 28
- McMurry, 27
- Howard Payne, 23
2026 ASC Preseason Players of the Year
Offensive: Alex Bethke, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Defensive: Jacob Wenzel, East Texas Baptist
2026 Players to Watch
| Name |
Position |
Class |
School |
| Gabriel Anderson * |
D |
So. |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Alex Bethke |
F |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Jovani Burnett |
MF |
Jr. |
McMurry |
| Joshua Daley * |
F |
Jr. |
East Texas Baptist |
| Dylan Garcia * |
MF |
Sr. |
East Texas Baptist |
| Jerron Garcia * |
MF |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Justyn Judie |
MF |
So. |
McMurry |
| Kolby Lara * |
F |
Jr. |
Howard Payne |
| Lewis Paterson |
D |
Sr. |
Schreiner |
| Korbin Raef * |
F |
Jr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Rhett Rapuzzi * |
MF |
Jr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Xzavier Saldana * |
F |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
| Jose Sanchez |
GK |
So. |
McMurry |
| Hughston Taggart * G |
GK |
So. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Adrian Villa * DF |
GK |
So. |
Howard Payne |
| Jacob Wenzel * |
D |
Sr. |
East Texas Baptist |
2025 All-Conference *
2025 Goalkeeper of the Year G
2025 Defensive Freshman of the Year DF