Northwestern State’s men’s soccer team has been selected first in the Southland Conference preseason poll, earning seven of the eleven first‑place votes and a total of 96 points. The squad returns five starters, four of whom earned all‑conference honors last season, and is determined to protect the title they captured in 2024.
A Competitive Conference Outlook
The poll reflects a deep conference field, with East Texas A&M placed second at 76 points and Lamar University and Houston Christian University tied for third at 74 points each. Stephen F. Austin State University follows in fourth, also receiving a single first‑place vote, underscoring the breadth of talent across the league.
Coach Jonathon Zenk, who guided the team to a 13‑5‑3 record and a historic upset of No. 19 Texas earlier in the season, says the early schedule is designed to test the Demons before conference play begins. The team opens with an exhibition at UL Monroe on August 5, hosts a home game in Natchitoches on August 8, and then travels to Oklahoma for its regular‑season debut on August 12.
Last season the Demons posted a 13‑5‑3 record, tying for the second‑most victories in program history, and recorded their first win over a ranked opponent by defeating the Longhorns in Austin. That momentum carries into the new campaign as they aim to translate preseason optimism into on‑field success.
Fans and alumni are eager to see whether the early exhibitions will sharpen the team’s chemistry before the demanding road test in Oklahoma. With a strong returning core and a coaching staff that has already proven its ability to compete at the national level, Northwestern State enters the season as a clear favorite to repeat as conference champions.