LONGVIEW, Texas -- The wait is nearly over. 

Under first-year head coach TJ Milby, the LeTourneau men's soccer team begins its 52nd season in program history on Saturday against Dallas Christian at the Joyce Family Athletic Village (7 p.m.). 

Milby comes to LeTourneau after spending two seasons as the assistant men's soccer coach at NCAA Division II member Cedarville. Milby was responsible for numerous aspects of the Cedarville program, including serving as the reserve team coach. He also served as high school boys director of FC Dayton Soccer Club where he coached two teams to the state and regional levels.

The YellowJackets will begin their first season as members of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. As they look to build upon the success they had in the ASC making an appearance in the conference championship match in two of the last three seasons. 

THE ROSTER

Five starters and 22 players overall return to Longview for 2025.

Junior Caleb Nelson is the leading goal-scorer returning for the YellowJackets. In his sophomore campaign Nelson tallied two goals, and two assists. 

Nelson was one of five All-ASC selections a season ago, he is joined by Senior midfielder Diego Enriquez. Enriquez is entering his fourth season for the YellowJackets earning an all-conference selection in every season of his collegiate career. A mainstay in the midfield Enriquez, logged 929 minutes played and notched one goal and two assists. 

Enriquez is one of seven seniors for LeTourneau. Nate Bransford and Juan Angel Morales have been key contributors over the past couple of seasons for the YellowJackets. Bransford tallied two goals and two assists last season. A true utility player Brasford logged minutes in multiple positions doing whatever he could to propel his team to victory. Morales was a mainstay on the back line helping LeTourneau to tally four shutouts last season. Rounding out the senior class is Nathan Peterson, Esteban Rodriguez, transfer Aidan Arcega, and the penalty kick hero Octavio Jacquez.

Jacquez is one of four keepers on the LeTourneau roster. Jacquez made his biggest impact last season during the conference tournament manning the net during PK's in the Semifinal match against UMHB. During this outing gathered a monumental save to send the YellowJackets to the championship match. Last years starter Edson Camara Martinez returns after notching a .783 save percentage, and posting four shutouts in his first season as the starter. Filling out the keeper room is Carson Gamble, and Anthony Pires da Silva. 

Pires da Silva is one of 10 juniors for LeTourneau. The junior class includes defensive mainstay Kristian Princ who logged 1524 minutes played, making 18 starts. A junior player to watch this year is forward Graysen Crawford who suffered a season-ending injury early in the year as a sophomore, but was a key contributor during his freshman campaign. Rounding out the junior class is Marcos Gonzalez, Abraham Gonzalez, Tyler Burks, Aubrey Camacho, Kamden Karleskint, and Elliott Spangler. 

Looking to continue being difference makers as sophomores are Carson Watts and Joshua Van Wagener. Watts provided solid defensive play off of the bench as a freshman, and Van Wagener notched 10 starts on the back line before being set back by an injury. The sophomore class also includes Patrick Bauer, Zach Parris, and transfer Karsten Guerra.

Milby brought in nine freshman: Jaron Wilkerson, Henry Shore, Will Bertrand, Chris Garrett, Elias Arreguin, Jeffrey Boedeker, Bridge Mwambukiri, Leandro Ferreira, and Sammy Shmorgun.  

SCAC OUTLOOK

LeTourneau was picked sixth in the SCAC preseason poll, garnering 72 points. The YellowJackets have been a force in the ASC making the conference championship in two of the last three seasons, and look to make their mark on a new conference. 

Colorado College collected 11 of the 12 first place votes and the favorite to win the league. St. Thomas was the only other team to collect a first place vote, and are ranked second in the preseason poll. Rounding out the top three is Concordia who edged out Texas Lutheran for third by just three points. 

THE SCHEDULE

The season, and home, opener is set for Aug. 30 when Dallas Christian comes to Longview. That match is one of 10 at the Joyce Family Athletic Village, including the first three to start the year.

Belhaven (Sept. 4) and Millsaps (Sept. 6) come to East Texas to round out the first week of the season.

LeTourneau then faces three new opponents consecutively. The team travels to Northwest Georgia on Sept. 12-13 to face Berry (Sept. 12) and Maryville (Sept. 13). It will be the first meetings all-time with both programs.

The YellowJackets then return home to face Southwestern for the first time on Sept. 18. 

After a road trip to Howard Payne (Sept. 20), SCAC play gets started on Sept. 26 against former ASC foe Concordia Texas followed by a match with Texas Lutheran on Sept. 28. 

LeTourneau also faces SCAC foes McMurry (Oct. 5), Centenary (Oct. 10), St. Thomas (Oct. 12), Dallas (Oct. 17), and Colorado College (Oct. 19) at home in league play. Road conference matches include Schreiner (Oct. 3), Ozarks (Oct. 24), Hendrix (Oct. 26), and Austin College (Nov. 1).

The SCAC Tournament begins on Nov. 6 in Round Rock, Texas. The top six teams qualify for the tournament

FOLLOW THE YELLOWJACKETS

Be sure to follow LeTourneau athletics all season long on letuathletics.com and social media at Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram for up-to-date scores, news, and other information.