RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On Thursday, the Great American Conference released the results of the 2025 men’s soccer preseason coaches poll. Rogers State and Fort Hays State tied for first place with 33 points each.
A season ago, the Hillcats and Tigers, as well as Southern Nazarene combined to make GAC/MIAA history as the conference sent three to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in league history.
The Hillcats collected four first-place votes. In addition to making the NCAA Tournament last season, they tied the Crimson Storm for the regular-season title. In the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, they earned the program’s first tournament win, a 3-2 overtime win against the Crimson Storm. They return First-Team All-GAC/MIAA midfielder Brandon O’Rourke and 2024 GAC/MIAA Newcomer of the Year Noah Preston-Watkins amongst six returning all-conference performers. O’Rourke ranked sixth in the league with 19 points – seven goals and five assists. Preston-Watkins totaled six goals and 15 points. Rogers State also returns Louis Bassett who amassed 11 points and three All-GAC/MIAA defenders – Artur Carvalho, Alex Laing and Sam Ryder.
The Tigers claimed the three outstanding first-place votes. They defeated Southern Nazarene in the final of the GAC/MIAA Championships to secure their second title. They won their opening-round NCAA Tournament against Davenport as part of a 13-4-4 season. They bring back their top three scores in Tadhg Walsh, Elias Ovelar Semeniuk and Bastian Carlman. Walsh ranked second in Division II with 15 assists. Ovelar Semeniuk tallied nine goals and 21 points. Carlman’s eight goals ranked fourth in the conference.
The Crimson Storm finished third. Last season they captured their fourth-straight regular-season title. They bring back five All-GAC performers in First-Team picks Junior Duran and Keshon Carter and Second-Team selections Axel Agurcia, Lucas Beja and Sasha Rabala. Beja netted seven goals; Duran tallied five goals and four assists and Agurcia scored six goals, including three game winners.
Newman took fourth, followed by Northeastern State. Last year, the Jets qualified for the GAC/MIAA Championships for the first time in program history. Gabriel Dias Juliani Newman and Gustavo Dias Juliani return after combining for nine goals and 12 assists. Gustavo’s 10 assists ranked 13th in Division II. The Jets bring back two all-conference defenders in Cameron Schroder and Gibran Villalobos.
Ouachita Baptist and Harding rounded on the poll. The Tigers return two All-GAC/MIAA selections in defender Kristian Baker and goalkeeper Dillon Staal.
The 2025 regular season begins on Thursday, September 4 with all seven schools taking the pitch. The Hillcats visit McKendree and Fort Hays State travels to Rockhurst. Southern Nazarene hosts Oklahoma Christian and Newman welcomes in West Texas A&M. Northeastern State faces Drury; Ouachita Baptist plays at Union and Harding takes on Christian Brothers. The GAC/MIAA Championship takes place on Thursday, November 13 and Saturday, November 15 at the site of the regular-season champion.
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