WICHITA FALLS, Texas- Midwestern State received 30 of a possible 33 first-place votes, garnering 351 points in the Lone Star Conference preseason poll, and the defending national champions are predicted to win the LSC regular season title. The Mustangs, who enter the season with an 11-game winning streak, captured the conference's regular season and tournament title last year with a 19-3-3 overall record, and they were 8-2-0 in conference play.

Senior forward Parker Plaxco from Stephenville, Texas, who led the league with five game-winning goals last season and finished second in the conference with 31 points (13 goals and five assists), was named LSC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Davis Mays, a graduate student from Wichita Falls, was named LSC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Mays was a standout performer as the Stangs allowed 0.68 goals per game last season.

Junior Jake Morris from Parker, Colorado, posted 11 clean sheets last season and is the LSC Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.

Plaxco and Mays were both All-LSC First Team selections in 2025. Plaxco was also a member of the LSC All-Academic Team.

The preseason poll and preseason players of the year are voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.

St. Edward's is picked as the conference runner-up with 293 points. The Hilltoppers finished 8-6-4 overall and 6-2-2 in league play last season – their second straight third-place finish.

UT Dallas is predicted in third place with 290 points and two first-place votes. The Comets (11-5-2, 7-2-1 LSC) were the league-runner-up last year.
Lubbock Christian is the fourth-place pick with 241 points and the final first-place vote. The Chaps (8-8-4, 5-2-3 LSC) reached the LSC tournament championship match last season.

UT Tyler is selected in the fifth place with 198 points, followed by DBU (187 points) to round out what would be the potential six teams to qualify for the LSC tournament.
Five-time LSC champion West Texas A&M (175 points) is picked to finish in seventh place, followed by three-time LSC champion St. Mary's (161 points), Oklahoma Christian (133 points), Sul Ross State (75 points) and Texas A&M International (74 points).

There were 31 players – 10 offensive, 11 defensive and 10 goalkeepers, including Plaxco, Mays and Morris – were selected for the LSC Men's Soccer Preseason Players to Watch list.

The quest for a 13th LSC title begins Aug. 27 in Richardson, Texas, against Cal State East Bay. The home opener is slated for Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. with Southern Nazarene visiting Stang Park.

The Mustangs will be aiming for a sixth consecutive LSC Tournament title. The six-team event is scheduled for Oct. 31 (quarterfinals), Nov. 4 (semifinals) and Nov. 7 (final). The quarterfinals will be held on campus of the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds; the semifinals are hosted by the No. 1 and No. 2 seed; and title match will be hosted by the highest remaining seed.

The NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship is set for Dec. 3 and 5 at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

All LSC soccer regular season and tournament matches can be viewed live on FloCollege. Monthly, yearly and family subscriptions are available.