Men's Soccer | 8/20/2026 11:05:00 AM
The Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) announced the results of the 2026 Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll and Players to Watch list on Thursday.
As Saint Francis continues its reclassification to Division III, the Red Wolves will be listed separately from the conference standings and will not be eligible for the PAC Championship.
The team began preseason workouts in Loretto this week. First-year head coach Shelby Edwards believes the players recognized can make a real splash in the league this season.
Álvaro Planas | Senior | Forward | Valladolid, Spain
Planas is the lone player to return from the squad who helped lead Saint Francis to the NEC Championship match last season. Planas registered four goals and two assists last season.
"Alvaro is a returning senior who will provide valuable leadership and serve as a bridge between the traditions of our program and the standards we are establishing moving forward," said head coach Shelby Edwards. "His experience, character, and leadership will make him a cornerstone of our program as we usher in a new era of Saint Francis University Men's Soccer."
Japhy McGuinness | Freshman | Midfielder | Saudi Arabia
Born in Ethiopia and raised in Saudi Arabia, McGuiness has played soccer all over the globe.
"Japhy comes from a strong soccer background, having spent the past several years developing his game in Spain," Edwards noted. "His positive demeanor, strong work ethic, and technical ability will be instrumental to our development throughout this season and will continue to serve him throughout his career at Saint Francis."
Lorenzo Plaza | Freshman | Midfielder | Manila, Philippines
Plaza is another newcomer who brings international experience to the Red Wolves.
Lorenzo is a first-year student-athlete joining us from the Philippines by way of Northeast Ohio, where he was a part of the highly regarded Western Reserve Academy program. He brings a high level of tactical understanding and technical ability that will elevate the intensity and quality of our training sessions and ultimately raise the level of competition within our program throughout his entire time at Saint Francis University.
The Red Wolves will host West Virginia Wesleyan College for a scrimmage on Wednesday, Aug. 26. The team opens the regular season on Sept. 15 against Saint Vincent.
2026 PAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll (Predicted order of finish) |
| School (first-place votes) |
Points |
2025 record (conference) |
| 1. Grove City College (11) |
132 |
15-3-2 (10-0-1 PAC) |
| 2. Franciscan University (1) |
120 |
11-10-1 (7-2-2 PAC) |
| 3. Allegheny College |
101 |
9-8-5 (6-3-2 PAC) |
| 4. Geneva College |
100 |
7-10-2 (5-4-2 PAC) |
| 5. Saint Vincent College |
92 |
11-4-5 (5-2-4 PAC) |
| 6. Waynesburg University |
77 |
7-6-5 (2-4-5 PAC) |
| 7. Washington & Jefferson College |
73 |
9-8-2 (5-5-1 PAC) |
| 8. Chatham University |
51 |
4-9-6 (2-4-5 PAC) |
| 9. Hiram College |
43 |
7-8-3 (3-5-3 PAC) |
| 10. Bethany College |
34 |
5-9-3 (4-6-1 PAC) |
| 11. Westminster College |
24 |
1-13-4 (1-7-3 PAC) |
| 12. Thiel College |
23 |
4-13-1 (1-9-1 PAC) |
| Saint Francis University* |
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8-9-2 (7-2 NEC) |
* - Ineligible for PAC Championship as school reclassifies from Division I
