San Antonio, Texas- After a season of growth and valuable experience, the Our Lady of the Lake University men's soccer team enters the 2026 campaign looking to take the next step under the leadership of Head Coach Shane Hurley. With a balanced roster featuring experienced seniors alongside an exciting freshman class, the Saints are focused on turning last year's lessons into success as they prepare for another challenging Red River Athletic Conference schedule.

Hurley, who returned to coaching the men's program in 2023 after serving full time as OLLU's athletic director, brings one of the most accomplished resumes in the conference. Since taking over the men's program in 2007, he has compiled more than 150 career victories while leading the Saints to multiple conference championships, 17 combined conference tournament appearances between the men's and women's programs, and a berth in the NAIA National Championship Tournament. His experience as both a player and coach continues to shape a program built on discipline, development and a commitment to competing at a high level.

Joining Hurley on the sidelines is assistant coach Jesus Cortes, who enters his fourth season with the Saints. A former standout at the University of the Incarnate Word, Cortes was a four-time First Team All-Conference selection and Freshman of the Year in 2008 before continuing his playing career professionally with the Austin Aztex. His coaching experience includes successful stops at Incarnate Word, Central Catholic High School, Antonian High School, St. Luke's Middle School and the San Antonio Forza Academy, providing the Saints with another experienced voice dedicated to player development.

OLLU finished the 2025 season with a 3-11-4 overall record and a 2-7-2 mark in conference play. While the record did not reflect the team's expectations, the season provided valuable opportunities for growth against a demanding schedule. The Saints earned victories over Schreiner, Jarvis Christian and Texas College while battling through several tightly contested matches that ended in draws. Those experiences have helped establish a foundation the program hopes to build upon this fall.

Leadership will be a key strength for the Saints, with a senior class that includes Baden Arrieta, Arthur Periera, Romualdo Gonzalez, Juan Hernandez, Nicolas Murgas, Kevin Zamora, Jovany Contreras, Nikola Saltchev and Stephen Matt Mireles. Their experience will be critical in guiding a roster that also features talented returners across every class.

The sophomore class returns with valuable collegiate experience from Zak Averns, Caleb Chagoy, Michael Joy, Thomas Turner, Emiliano Abboud, Nicolas Hernandez, Daniel Short and Ethan Carvajal, while juniors Alesandro Sierra, Marounane Rouggani and Luis F. Moura provide additional leadership in the middle of the roster.

An impressive freshman class will also have the opportunity to make an immediate impact. Damien Eguez, Alexis Vega, Kevin Fernandez, Marcos Garcia, Jared Avitia, Luis Polanco, Jose Rene Martinez, Miguel Sanchez and Mario Rubio give the Saints added depth and competition throughout the lineup as they begin their collegiate careers.

The 2026 schedule once again presents a strong mix of nonconference and conference competition. After preseason scrimmages against Coastal Bend, Texas Southmost College and Texas Lutheran, along with the annual Alumni Game, the Saints officially open the season on the road against Oklahoma City before traveling to Science and Arts. OLLU then returns home to host Huston-Tillotson and Schreiner before welcoming Nelson (Texas), Wiley and Southwestern Christian to San Antonio.

The Saints will also test themselves against NCAA Division I opponent Incarnate Word before beginning Red River Athletic Conference play in late September. Conference competition features matchups with LSU Shreveport, Texas A&M-Texarkana, Louisiana Christian, LSU Alexandria, Southwest, Texas College, Texas A&M-San Antonio, Texas A&M-Victoria and North American as OLLU looks to climb the conference standings and position itself for a postseason berth.

With a respected coaching staff, an experienced senior class and a talented group of newcomers, optimism surrounds the Saints entering the new season. The combination of veteran leadership, youthful energy and the lessons learned from last year's campaign provides OLLU with an opportunity to make significant strides throughout the 2026 season. As the Saints prepare to take the field, the focus remains on competing every match, continuing to develop as a team and building toward a return to conference contention.