Sun Belt: Men’s and Women’s Soccer Season Preview

Appalachian State

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 6th in the Sun Belt (4-3-3, 15 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Appalachian State at Western Carolina – 8/14
  • Miami at Appalachian State – 8/17
  • Davidson at Appalachian State – 8/21
  • Appalachian State at William & Mary – 8/24
  • Appalachian State at Clemson – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Izzi Wood – Graduate – Forward
    • Named to All-Sun Belt Conference First Team in 2024

Arkansas State

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 12th in the Sun Belt (1-5-4, 7 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at Arkansas State – 8/14
  • Arkansas State at UT Martin – 8/17
  • Stephen F. Austin at Arkansas State – 8/21
  • Arkansas State at Oklahoma State – 8/24
  • Arkansas State at Central Arkansas – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Keelyn Peacock – R-Senior – Midfielder
    • Led Arkansas State with 4 goals in 2024

Coastal Carolina

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 9th in the Sun Belt (1-5-3, 6 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Coastal Carolina at Wintrhop – 8/21
  • Longwood at Coastal Carolina – 8/25
  • Wofford at Coastal Carolina – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Gudjon Stefansson – Junior – Forward
    • Had 15 appearances and 14 starts for Coastal Carolina in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 7th in the Sun Belt (3-3-4, 13 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Kennesaw State at Coastal Carolina – 8/14
  • Coastal Carolina at Richmond – 8/17
  • UNCW at Coastal Carolina – 8/21
  • Belmont at Coastal Carolina – 8/24
  • Coastal Carolina at Louisville – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Eleanor Ashton – Sophomore – Forward
    • Named to All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team in 2024

Georgia Southern

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 8th in the Sun Belt (2-5-2, 8 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Georgia Southern at Charlotte – 8/21
  • UNCW at Georgia Southern – 8/24
  • Georgia Southern at Wofford – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Ryan Holmes – Junior – Forward
    • Named Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 11th in the Sun Belt (3-6-1, 10 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Samford at Georgia Southern – 8/14
  • Jacksonville at Georgia Southern – 8/17
  • Georgia Southern at Western Carolina – 8/21
  • Arkansas at Georgia Southern – 8/24
  • Georgia Southern at UNCW – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Claire Casey – Sophomore – Defender
    • Named to All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team in 2024

Georgia State

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 10th in the Sun Belt (1-5-3, 6 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Georgia State at USC-Upstate – 8/21
  • Georgia State at UNC Asheville – 8/26
  • Georgia State at Winthrop – 8/30
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Tom Fillaudeau – Senior – Defender
    • Tied for lead in minutes played (1530) for Georgia State in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 5th in the Sun Belt (4-2-4, 16 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Truett McConnell at Georgia State – 8/14
  • Georgia State at Furman – 8/17
  • West Georgia at Georgia State – 8/21
  • Kennesaw State at Georgia State – 8/28
  • Georgia State at South Carolina – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Aaliyah Faddoul –  Junior – Forward
    • Named to All-Sun Belt Conference First Team in 2024

James Madison

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 6th in the Sun Belt (3-3-3, 12 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Fordham at James Madison – 8/21
  • Gardner-Webb at James Madison – 8/24
  • Rutgers at James Madison – 8/29
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Jeffrey Aguilar – Junior – Midfielder
    • 2nd most GCs (3g/4a) for James Madison in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 1st in the Sun Belt (8-0-2, 26 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • James Madison at NC State – 8/14
  • Liberty at James Madison – 8/17
  • James Madison at Georgetown – 8/21
  • James Madison at George Mason – 8/24
  • William & Mary at James Madison – 8/28
  • James Madison at Penn State – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Ginny Lackey – Sophomore – Forward
    • Sun Belt Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in 2024

Kentucky

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 4th in the Sun Belt (4-2-3, 15 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Kentucky at Western Michigan – 8/21
  • Bellarmine at Kentucky – 8/25
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Agustin Lopez – Sophomore – Midfielder
    • Named to All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team in 2024

Louisiana

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 10th in the Sun Belt (2-4-4, 10 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Lamar at Louisiana – 8/14
  • Louisiana at Rice – 8/17
  • Louisiana Tech at Louisiana – 8/21
  • McNeese at Louisiana – 8/24
  • Louisiana at UTRGV – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Sydney Byrnes – Sophomore – Defender
    • Led Louisiana with 4 assists in 2024

Marshall

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 2nd in the Sun Belt (4-0-5, 17 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • George Mason at Marshall – 8/22
  • Virginia Tech at Marshall – 8/29
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Takahiro Fujita – Junior – Defender
    • Named to All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 13th in the Sun Belt (1-5-4, 7 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Marshall at Morehead State – 8/14
  • Glenville State at Marshall – 8/20
  • Marshall at Ohio – 8/24
  • Marshall at Wright State – 8/27
  • Marshall at Murray State – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Bailey Fisher – Senior – Midfielder/Forward
    • Led Marshall with 8 GCs (4g/4a) in 2024

Old Dominion

Men’s 

• 2024 Finish: 7th in the Sun Belt (3-5-1, 10 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • George Washington at Old Dominion – 8/21
  • Old Dominion at Elon – 8/25
  • VCU at Old Dominion – 8/29
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Michael Eberle – Senior – Forward
    • Led Old Dominion with 7 GCs (3g/4a) in 2024

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 4th in the Sun Belt (5-2-3, 18 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Old Dominion at Georgetown – 8/14
  • William & Mary at Old Dominion – 8/17
  • Maryland at Old Dominion – 8/24
  • Liberty at Old Dominion – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Ashlynn Kulha – Junior – Defender
    • Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year in 2024

South Alabama

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 3rd in the Sun Belt (5-2-3, 18 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • South Alabama at LSU – 8/14
  • Tennessee Tech at South Alabama – 8/17
  • South Alabama at Samford – 8/21
  • Louisiana Tech at South Alabama – 8/24
  • Middle Tennessee at South Alabama – 8/28
  • Southeastern Louisiana at South Alabama – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Bonnie Frost – Senior – Midfielder/Forward
    • Third most minutes played (1509) for South Alabama in 2024

South Carolina

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 5th in the Sun Belt (5-4-0, 15 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • South Carolina at Charleston – 8/21
  • South Carolina at Clemson – 8/26
  • USC Upstate at South Carolina – 8/29
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Ethan Ballek – Senior – Midfielder
    • Named to All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team in 2024

Southern Mississippi

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 9th in the Sun Belt (2-3-5, 11 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Southern Mississippi at Memphis – 8/14
  • Southern Mississippi at Southern – 8/17
  • Southern Mississippi at Auburn – 8/21
  • Ole Miss at Southern Mississippi – 8/24
  • Southern Mississippi at Mississippi Valley State – 8/28
  • Southern Mississippi at UAB – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Roquelle Mitchell – Sophomore – Forward
    • 2nd in GCs (4g/3a) for Southern Mississippi in 2024

Texas State

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 2nd in the Sun Belt (6-1-3, 21 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Our Lady of the Lake at Texas State – 8/14
  • Texas State at Incarnate Word – 8/17
  • Texas State at Texas A&M – 8/20
  • Arizona State at Texas State – 8/24
  • Stephen F. Austin at Texas State – 8/28
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Kaylie Smith – Junior – Midfielder
    • Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year in 2024

Troy 

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 14th in the Sun Belt (1-7-2, 5 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Troy at Murray State – 8/14
  • Troy at Alcorn State – 8/17
  • Southeastern Louisiana at Troy – 8/22
  • Spring Hill at Troy – 8/24
  • Troy at North Alabama – 8/28
  • Jacksonville at Troy – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Grace DeShetler – Sophomore – Defender
    • Led team with 1471 minutes as a freshman

UCF

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 3rd in the Sun Belt (5-4-0, 15 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • UCF at North Carolina – 8/21
  • UCF at Wake Forest – 8/24
  • UTRGV at UCF – 8/27
  • UNCG at UCF – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Clarence Awoudor – Senior – Forward/Midfielder
    • Led team in points (13) in 2024 (13)

ULM

Women’s

• 2024 Finish: 8th in the Sun Belt (3-5-2, 11 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Southeastern Louisiana at ULM – 8/14
  • ULM at Central Arkansas – 8/17
  • ULM at Nicholls – 8/21
  • ULM at UAB – 8/24
  • Little Rock at ULM – 8/27
  • ULM at Houston – 8/31
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Skylar Blaise – Senior – Forward
    • Led team in points (17) in 2024

West Virginia

Men’s

• 2024 Finish: 1st in the Sun Belt (5-0-4, 19 points)
• 2025 August Schedule:
  • Manhattan at West Virginia – 8/21
  • LaSalle at West Virginia – 8/24
  • West Virginia at Akron – 8/29
• Returning Player to Watch:
  • Marc Bonnaire – Graduate – Goalkeeper
    • Named to All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team in 2024