RICHARDSON, Texas - With the new campaign just over one week away, Oklahoma Christian men's soccer was picked eighth in the 2025 Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll, the league announced Tuesday, Aug. 26.

Accompanying this new season is head coach Neil Hilton's second year at the helm of the OC program. In his inaugural year, coach Hilton led the Eagles to a 6-8-3 record, which was its second-most victories since joining the LSC in 2019.

From that first season, Hilton brings with him All-Freshman recipient and Second Team All-Conference selection Ethan Nakolo, who finished second on the team with six goals and was tied for the team-lead with three assists. Goals-leader Igor Caballero (7) joins Nakolo among the key returners for the second year of the Hilton era.

"I think we can take a lot from last year," Hilton said. "We have a lot of returning guys who have now experienced the tough schedule. Just the nature of the schedule is very physical and tolling on the body. So I think those guys having the experience of what we went through last year is a big plus for the group."

A stout defensive team from a year ago brings back their entire defensive front, including junior defenders Renato Disha and Jorge Blanc and senior defender Luca Friederich. Hilton and his staff also add JUCO transfer defender Tyler Ackah-Wheatcroft from Union Commonwealth, who led the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) in assists in 2024.

To help the offensive attack alongside Nakolo and Caballero is sophomore transfer Mason Tracey from Irvine Valley College who, in 14 conference matches, scored four goals and three assists.

Oklahoma Christian will get its season underway Thursday, Sept. 4 at Southern Nazarene in Bethany, Okla. at 7:30 p.m. One week later, OC will host Drury in the Eagles' first home match of the 2025 campaign Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. CT.


2025 LSC PRESEASON POLL
 

Rank	Team	Total (1st-place votes)
1	Midwestern State	338 (16)
2	St. Mary's	331 (13)
3	St. Edward's	297 (3)
4	DBU	241
5	West Texas A&M	239
6	Lubbock Christian	169
7	UT Tyler	161
8	Oklahoma Christian	134
9	UT Dallas	104
10	Texas A&M International	86
11	Sul Ross State	78