SHERMAN, Texas - As the Austin College men's soccer team gets set to kick off the 2023 campaign on Friday night, the 'Roos will be looking to make some moves in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference standings in year two under head coach Taylor Goyen.

After finishing 3-12-1 overall and 2-6 in conference play last year, the 'Roos were picked to finish sixth in the conference this season but will be pushing for a spot in the conference tournament. Leading the way will be sophomore midfielder Pierce Wear, who earned All-Conference honors a year ago and was named Austin College's male freshman student-athlete of the year. Last year, Wear finished tied for second on the team with three goals, trailing only Louis Catchpole's four tallies. Catchpole returns as well, another All-Conference performer and one of the team's most dangerous offensive threats. 

Also back this season is Kyle Nimon, who tied with Wear for second on the team in tallies with three, and added a pair of assists on the year. The offensive attack will be bolstered by Daniel Gomez and Pedro Echeverria, each of whom scored once a year ago. Several other returners enter the year with plenty of game and starting experience, including William Woulfe and Max Mundorff, while Sam Spencer started 13 of the 15 games in which he appeared as a first-year defender. Austin Brown returns for his senior season to help shore up the midfield after appearing in 15 matches last year.

Goyen will need to find a replacement for Connor Tullis, who started every game in goal last season, and he'll be looking to transfer keeper Everardo Garza as well as first-year players Jayson Baldwin and Johan Osuna to fill that gap. Several newcomers should get a chance to make an impact defensively this season, including transfers Justin Ajdukovich and Josue Bravo, alongside freshmen such as Ben Schrib, Asher Engelbrecht, and Samuel Vazquez.

The 'Roos take to the pitch for the first time on September 1, when they head to Marshall to take on East Texas Baptist at 7:00 p.m.