Males’s Soccer Picked Third in MVC Preseason Poll, Shepherd Named to All-Conference Team

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Coming off a 2025 season that noticed the Aces declare a share of the MVC common season title and the primary seed within the MVC Tournament, the University of Evansville males’s soccer group has been picked third within the MVC Preseason Poll forward of the 2026 marketing campaign, the league workplace introduced on Monday. Sophomore Devin Shepherd (Denver, Colo./Arapahoe) represented Evansville on the league’s Preseason All-Conference group.
 
Evansville enters the 2026 season trying to construct on the success of the final two seasons, profitable the MVC Tournament title in 2024 earlier than incomes a share of their first common season convention title since 1991 in 2025. Tabbed third within the preseason ballot, the choice is Evansville’s highest within the preseason ballot since 2017. Western Michigan was picked because the preseason favourite, whereas Drake was picked second.
 
Shepherd earns a spot on the Preseason All-MVC group after being named to the MVC All-Freshman Team in 2025 and ending the season ranked 51^st in Top Drawer Soccer’s Freshman Top 100. Shepherd began all 20 matches for the Purple Aces in his first collegiate season. Shepherd completed the season second on the group in targets (5) and factors (12) and notched a brace in opposition to Xavier for the primary brace by a UE freshman in three years.
 
Evansville opens the 2026 marketing campaign on Thursday with a visit to Louisville to battle Bellarmine. Kickoff is about for six p.m. Central.