2018 Men's Soccer Preview

The men's soccer team celebrates a victory at Hurie Field last season. The Eagles are now primed for a deep run in the playoffs.

The Eagles qualified for the conference tournament last season and advanced to the semi-finals. The Eagles return seven starters from a team that went 9-7-2 overall and 4-5-2 in league play. The Eagles had a balanced scoring attack last season led by senior midfielder Thomas Ross, who had one goal and five assists. The Eagles also return senior forward Bryce Young, who has 24 career goals. Goalkeeper Austin Valestin returns for his sophomore year after posting a 1.17 goals against average. The men's program has qualified for the playoffs in each of Aaron Brueckner's two seasons as head coach.

 
Returning Starters:
Miguel Reyes (Mid), Thomas Ross (Mid), Spence Jean Baptiste (Mid), Michael Luster (Mid), Cade Coggins (D), Manny Torres (D), Logan Valestin (GK)

Newcomers: Jordan Maloney (GK - Frisco, Texas), Jax Robinson (D - Claremore, Okla.), Jonathan Julmiste (D - Cape Coral, Fla.), Richard Souffrant (D - Tabarre, Haiti), Asahel Salgado (MF - Dallas, Texas), Pedro Gallaga (F - Willis, Texas), Milord Lorfils (MF - Port-Au-Prince, Haiti), Drew Mott (MF - Arlington, Texas), Truman Hensley (MF - Montgomery, Texas), Ivan Vela (MF - Richmond, Texas), Eric Gasca (F - Dallas, Texas), Rigo Resendez (MF - Clarksville, Ark.), Jonathan Smith (MF - Jackson, Miss.)

2017 Top Goal Scorers: Miguel Reyes (3), Matt Samaniego (3), Spence Jean Baptiste (3), Daniel Olvera Cruz (3), Bryce Young (3)

2017 Assist Leader: Thomas Ross (5)

2017 Point Leader: Johnson Cijulus (7), Miguel Reyes (7), Thomas Ross (7), Matt Samaniego (7)

All-Conference Players Returning: Thomas Ross (Mid), Spence Jean Baptiste (Mid), Miguel Reyes (Mid), Bradley Rice (D), Manny Torres (D)

2017 Record (ASC):
9-7-2 (4-5-2)

2017 Conference Finish: 6th

2017 Tournament:
1st round win agianst Concordia University Texas; second round loss against Mary Hardin-Baylor

Program Playoff Appearances: 15




Coach Brueckner Quotes:

"We are not focused on what we did last season. We are focused on wanting to improve. We want to play our best soccer at the end of the season. Our overall goal is to win the conference tournament and qualify for the national tournament. But that is certainly easier said than done. We have seven All-Conference players coming back. They know what is expected."


2018 Schedule

August
24 at Harding University (scrimmage/exhibition)
26 Ouachita Baptist (scrimmage/ exhibition)
31 vs #Berry College

September
2 vs #Birmingham Southern College
5 Lyon College
8 Williams Baptist College
13 at *Texas Dallas
15 at *Howard Payne University
20 *Concordia University Texas
22 *Mary Hardin-Baylor
27 at *Hardin-Simmons University
29 at *McMurry University

October
2 Ecclesia College
6 *Sul Ross State University
11 at *East Texas Baptist University
13 at *LeTourneau University
16 at Hendrix College
20 at *UT-Tyler
25 at *Belhaven University
27 at %*Louisiana College
30 at American Southwest Conference Championship Championship Tournament

November
2 at American Southwest Conference Championship Championship Tournament
4 at American Southwest Conference Championship Championship Tournament

#Birmingham Southern College Labor Day Classic
*American Southwest Conference match
%Homecoming/Senior Day/Fun on the Fields