RICHARDSON, Texas - Head coach Neil Hilton is set to lead the Oklahoma Christian men's soccer program onto the pitch for his third year at the helm as his Eagles were selected ninth in the Lone Star Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Poll, the league announced Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Hilton and his staff come into 2026 after producing the program's first All-American and LSC Player of the Year Ethan Nakolo in 2025. Oklahoma Christian has produced either the LSC Freshman of the Year or Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons.

"We have certainly shown we can develop players," Coach Hilton said. "We have made some changes in the spring within the program and I think we have come back this fall as a better group and we are ready to go."

With Nakolo now at NCAA Division I Northwestern, the Eagles will look to some new faces to get their offense going. Headlining the newcomers for OC in 2026 is 2025 First Team All-Sooner Athletic Conference goalkeeper Dante Caffaro from Mid-America Christian, DI transfer defender Hunter Wilson from UNC Asheville and sophomore forward Kenzo Shabazz-Edwards from Rogers State in Claremore, Okla.

Veteran leaders returning for the maroon-and-gray are LSC Players to Watch senior midfielder Igor Caballero and senior defender Luca Winder, along with junior forward Mason Tracey and senior defender Tyler Ackah-Wheatcroft. Caballero and Tracey were first and second on last year's team with seven and three assists, respectively, while Ackah-Wheatcroft recording a pair of goals and assists each.

"Our identity has not changed at all," Tracey said. "we are still looking to make teams scared and get three points wherever we go. We have a special togetherness about this team and that will definitely carry over into games."

Oklahoma Christian gets the 2026 season started with an in-region contest against Colorado Christian Thursday, Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. Five days later, OC will host Newman at Eagles Soccer Field Wednesday, Sept. 2 before celebrating 40 years of Oklahoma Christian men's soccer when the Eagles take on former SAC rival Southern Nazarene Saturday, Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. 


2026 LSC MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
 

Rank	School	1st	Total
1	Midwestern State	30	351
2	St. Edward's		293
3	UT Dallas	2	290
4	Lubbock Christian	1	241
5	UT Tyler		198
6	DBU		187
7	West Texas A&M		175
8	St. Mary's		161
9	Oklahoma Christian		133
10	Sul Ross State		75
11	Texas A&M International		74