BIRMINGHAM – The Trevecca Nazarene University men's soccer team is picked eleventh of 12 teams in the 2024 Gulf South Conference (GSC) Preseason Coaches' Poll. A trio of Trojans made the league's newcomer watchlist, transfers Ian Aviles and Tom Hooper along with freshman Daniel Shiel.
This is the first season for Trevecca athletics in the GSC, after spending their first 11 years in NCAA Division II athletics, as a charter member of the then new Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
Head coach Daniel Leavy is back on the Hill for a program-most 16th season at Trevecca. Leavy sees the Trojans transition conferences for the second time in his tenure after helping guide the Trojans into the NCAA Division II ranks 12 years ago.
MORE ON THE THREE TROJANS ON THE GSC NEWCOMER'S WATCHLIST
IAN AVILES
He played in England at the University of Chester after earning TAPPS All-State honors at Fort Bend Christian Academy in Houston, Texas.
TOM HOOPER
Hooper is a transfer from Blinn College where he helped the Bucs to a 14-7 mark last season with three assists. In 2022, he scored five goals for the Bucs during their 13-7-2 season.
DANIEL SHIEL
The freshman from Newcastle, Northern Ireland was the top scorer for the Glenavon FC U20 team.
West Florida is tabbed as favorites in the 2024 Gulf South Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The poll and preseason team are voted for by GSC men's soccer head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own team or student-athletes.
The West Florida Argonauts collected 117 total points and nine of the 12 first-place votes to top the poll after winning the GSC tournament as the number three seed.
West Florida, who are ranked #13, along with Mississippi College are ranked nationally by the United Soccer Coaches Poll. The Choctaws are receiving votes in the USCP while they are tabbed second in the league with three first-place votes. West Alabama collected 89 points in third, followed by Auburn Montgomery who was picked fourth with 88 points. Christian Brothers and Lee both amassed 80 preseason conference points and are tied for fifth.
The Trojans sit eleventh in the preseason poll with 27 points, two behind tenth placed Spring Hill and edging out former longtime NAIA rivals, Union University who collected 17 points.
The 2024 campaign marks the 29th season of GSC men's soccer and the debut of the Trevecca Trojans in the Gulf South Conference. Teams will play 11 conference games over eight weeks.
KEY TROJAN RETURNERS
ADAN GONZALEZ, SR – NASHVILLE, TN
Entering his senior season, Adan Gonzalez is poised to solidify his spot as the team's top choice in goal. Known for his composure and skill both between the posts and with the ball at his feet, Gonzalez is ready to compete with the conference's elite goalkeepers. With a 68.3% save percentage last season, he's well-positioned to boost those numbers, thanks to a reinforced defensive line.
JOSH FARRELL, SR – NASHVILLE, TN
A stalwart in the defense, senior center-back Josh Farrell is entering his third season at Trevecca. Voted as the team's MVP last season by his peers, Farrell's advanced defensive skills and leadership have earned him the captain's armband. As he leads the team into a new conference, his experience and presence will be invaluable.
JACOB SIEBER, SR – ROCKLIN, CA
Rising as the engine of the team, senior Jake Sieber has consistently fueled the attack while handling the gritty work in midfield. Playing in the number eight role, Sieber has gradually been given more freedom in attack, thanks to a strong supporting cast in midfield. With the addition of newcomers like Tomas Hooper and junior Innis Ortiz, Sieber is set to take on an even more dynamic role in his final season.
JACK FRANKLIN, SO – NASHVILLE, TN
Jack Franklin made a significant impact during his freshman season, showcasing flashes of brilliance and creativity on the field. Now, as a sophomore, he has been entrusted with the coveted #10 jersey, a clear indication of the program's confidence in his potential. Franklin's inventive play style makes him a player to watch as he continues to develop his craft.
HOW TO WATCH
For the first time ever, all regular season soccer matches will be streamed exclusively on FloSports and FloFC. Fans who subscribe here can secure special GSC pricing, and those who use an .edu email from a GSC school-playing member institution can save even more on monthly or annual subscriptions.
SEASON OPENER
The Trevecca men's soccer season begins September 5 when the Trojans travel to Jefferson City, Tennessee to take on Carson-Newman University. Kick-off is set for 4:00 p.m.
GSC OPENER
Trevecca opens GSC play at the University of Alabama-Huntsville's Charger Park on September 20 with kick-off against the Chargers set for 7:30 p.m. Two days later, on September 22, the first-ever GSC home match is set to be played against the University of West Alabama.
2024 GSC Men's Soccer Championships are Nov. 9-16
Full TNU Men's Soccer Schedule, Click Here
Full GSC Men's Soccer Schedule, Click Here
2024 GSC MEN'S SOCCER COACHES PRESEASON POLL
|
#
|
SCHOOL / TEAM
|
NICKNAME
|
1ST PLACE
|
VOTES
|
|
1
|
Univ. of West Florida
|
Argonauts
|
(9)
|
117
|
|
2
|
Mississippi College
|
Choctaws
|
(3)
|
113
|
|
3
|
Univ. of West Alabama
|
Tigers
|
|
89
|
|
4
|
Auburn Univ. at Montgomery
|
Warhawks
|
|
88
|
|
t5
|
Christian Brothers Univ.
|
Buccaneers
|
|
80
|
|
t5
|
Lee Univ.
|
Flames
|
|
80
|
|
7
|
Univ. of Alabama in Huntsville
|
Chargers
|
|
63
|
|
8
|
Delta State Univ.
|
Statesman
|
|
49
|
|
9
|
Univ. of Montevallo
|
Falcons
|
|
40
|
|
10
|
Spring Hill Univ.
|
Badgers
|
|
29
|
|
11
|
Trevecca Nazarene Univ.
|
Trojans
|
|
27
|
|
12
|
Union Univ.
|
Bulldogs
|
|
17
|
*First-place votes in parenthesis ( )
GSC MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Nicholas Atkinson, F, Sr., Auburn Montgomery#
Adam Hanson, M, Sr., Auburn Montgomery
Logan Roach, D, Gr., Auburn Montgomery
Marc Ehmann, M, Sr., Lee#
Luke Fanstone, D, Sr., Mississippi College#
Cole Turner, GK, R-Jr., Mississippi College#
David Nunez, F, So., West Alabama!
Ellis Williamson, D, Sr., West Alabama*
Keegan Ancelin, F, Sr., West Florida
Josiah Fontenot, F, Sr., West Florida*
Kendrick Hernandez, M, Jr., West Florida
Keegan Lynch, D, Sr., West Florida
Caue Novaes, M, Sr., West Florida#
Players listed alphabetically by school
* 2023 First Team All-GSC
# 2023 Second Team All-GSC
! 2023 GSC Freshman of the Year
GSC MEN'S SOCCER NEWCOMER WATCHLIST
|
ATHLETE
|
SCHOOL
|
POS
|
YEAR
|
HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL
|
|
Caleb Alldredge
|
UAH
|
F
|
Fr.
|
Huntsville, Ala./Huntsville HS
|
|
Brody Worrell
|
UAH
|
M
|
Fr.
|
Wetumpka, Ala./Wetumpka HS
|
|
Havar Solheim
|
UAH
|
F
|
Fr.
|
Sysle, Norway/Buskerud Videregaede Skoke
|
|
Alexander Carey
|
AUM
|
M
|
Jr.
|
Glasgow, Scotland/St. Mary's
|
|
Ben Hoffman
|
AUM
|
F
|
Fr.
|
Berlin, Germany/Flatow-Oberschule
|
|
Jaime Ward
|
AUM
|
D
|
Jr.
|
Ardee, Ireland/Bryant & Stratton College
|
|
Alex Blanche
|
CBU
|
F
|
Jr.
|
New Orleans, La./LSU-Eunice
|
|
Harry Lang
|
CBU
|
A
|
|
Rainham, England
|
|
Asaki Nakamura
|
CBU
|
M/D
|
Jr.
|
Gunma, Japan/Arizona Western College
|
|
Shay Gillen
|
Lee
|
M
|
Jr.
|
Archbald, Pa./Bloomsburg (Pa.)
|
|
Marlon Grossman
|
Lee
|
F
|
Gr.
|
Schwaebisch Gmuend, Germany/Trevecca
|
|
Nick Lu
|
Lee
|
M
|
Jr.
|
Delft, Holland/Eastern Oregon
|
|
Aimar Banuls
|
Mississippi College
|
M
|
Jr.
|
La Vall d'Uixo, Spain/Mars Hill
|
|
Lewis Matton
|
Mississippi College
|
F
|
So.
|
Weybridge, England/Walsh (Ohio)
|
|
Ole Telje
|
Mississippi College
|
D
|
Jr.
|
Olso, Norway/Central Connecticut State
|
|
Dominic Kienzle
|
Montevallo
|
F
|
So.
|
Kaarst, Germany/Norco College (Calif.)
|
|
Will Mashburn
|
Montevallo
|
D
|
Jr.
|
Cumming, Ga./Erskine College
|
|
Cristobal Porter
|
Montevallo
|
F
|
So.
|
Concepcion, Chile/St. John's School
|
|
Gage Estep
|
Spring Hill
|
M
|
Jr.
|
Birmingham, Ala./Birmingham-Southern
|
|
Alejandro Merio
|
Spring Hill
|
F
|
Fr.
|
Milan, Italy/Giana Erminio
|
|
Max Zablocki
|
Spring Hill
|
D
|
Fr.
|
Berlin, Germany/Berlin HS
|
|
Ian Avilés
|
Trevecca
|
F
|
Gr.
|
Puerto Rico/University of Chester (UK)
|
|
Tom Hooper
|
Trevecca
|
M
|
Jr.
|
Chessington, England/Blinn College
|
|
Daniel Shiel
|
Trevecca
|
F
|
Fr.
|
Newcastle, Northen Ireland/NIFC Academy
|
|
Cillian Heaney
|
Union
|
F/M
|
So.
|
Westport, Ireland/Nebraska-Omaha
|
|
Diego Medina
|
Union
|
F/M
|
So.
|
Santiago, Chile/Harcum College (Pa.)
|
|
Wesley Mhlanga
|
Union
|
M
|
Jr.
|
Johannesburg, South Africa/Mount Olive
|
|
Malte Kaiser
|
West Alabama
|
M
|
Gr.
|
Eschwege, Germany/Creighton
|
|
Ronny Wakelin
|
West Alabama
|
M
|
Fr.
|
Walsall, England/Burton Albion
|
|
Joe Wright
|
West Alabama
|
F
|
Jr.
|
Liverpool, England/Lewis & Clark CC
|
MORE ABOUT THE TREVECCA TROJANS
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