New Braunfels, TX – 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.

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. Lars Clark, the 2025 ASC Offensive Freshman of the Year, has been selected as the 2026 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. 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
1. Mary Hardin-Baylor, 69 (10)
2. Hardin-Simmons, 53 (1)
3. East Texas Baptist, 52 (1)
4. Schreiner, 28
5. McMurry, 27
6. Howard Payne, 23

2026 ASC Preseason Players of the Year
Offensive: Lars Clark, East Texas Baptist
Defensive: Jacob Wenzel, East Texas Baptist

2026 Players to Watch
Name                       Position     Class     School
Alex Bethke              F                 Sr.          Mary Hardin-Baylor
Jovani Burnett          MF              Jr.           McMurry
Lars Clark*^OF           F                 So.         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
Gabriel Sias*           D                 So.         Hardin-Simmons
Hughston Taggart*^G GK             So.          Mary Hardin-Baylor
Jacob Wenzel*         D                Sr.           East Texas Baptist
Adrian Villa*^DF         GK              So.         Howard Payne
 
2025 All-Conference
2025 Offensive Freshman of the Year ^OF
2025 Goalkeeper of the Year ^G
2025 Defensive Freshman of the Year ^DF