HOUSTON, TX — St. Thomas men's soccer team has been selected fourth in the 2026 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 61 points in voting conducted exclusively by the league's head coaches.
The Celts enter the 2026 season once again among the conference's top contenders after advancing to five of the last six SCAC Tournament championship matches and capturing three conference tournament titles during that span.
St. Thomas' fourth-place selection reflects the respect the Celts have earned throughout the conference while also setting the stage for another competitive season under head coach Ernesto Ramirez, who enters his third season at the helm of the program.
The Celts will look to build on their recent postseason success as they begin the 2026 season with a challenging non-conference slate before turning their attention to SCAC play in October.
Colorado College was selected as the preseason favorite, receiving seven first-place votes and 97 points. Texas Lutheran University followed closely in second with 91 points and three first-place votes, while Concordia University Texas claimed third with 75 points.
Austin College and LeTourneau University tied for fifth with 54 points, followed by Hendrix College with 50 points. Centenary College finished eighth with 30 points, while the University of the Ozarks and the University of Dallas rounded out the poll with 22 and 16 points, respectively.
The 2026 SCAC men's soccer season officially begins Tuesday, September 1, with St. Thomas opening the campaign against North American University.
Before conference play begins, the Celts will take part in preseason and non-conference competition, including exhibition matches against a club team on August 20, Wiley University on August 27 and a soccer club on August 29.
The SCAC will begin conference competition during the first full weekend of October.
The 2026 SCAC Men's Soccer Tournament will return to Round Rock Multipurpose Complex in Round Rock, Texas. Quarterfinal matches are scheduled for Thursday, November 5, followed by the semifinals on Friday, November 6, and the championship match on Sunday, November 8.
With another season ahead, the Celts will look to turn their preseason position into another postseason run and continue their tradition of competing for SCAC championships.
2026 SCAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Colorado College — 97 points (7 first-place votes)
- Texas Lutheran University — 91 points (3 first-place votes)
- Concordia University Texas — 75 points
- University of St. Thomas — 61 points
- Austin College — 54 points
- LeTourneau University — 54 points
- Hendrix College — 50 points
- Centenary College — 30 points
- University of the Ozarks — 22 points
- University of Dallas — 16 points
