Men's Soccer Picked 3rd; Thurbin Named Preseason GK of Year

RICHARDSON, Texas — St. Mary's University's Johnny Thurbin has been named the Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year by the Lone Star Conference, the league announced on Tuesday, August 27.
 
Thurbin, a junior from Lingfield, Surrey, England, has played in eight games over the last two years, starting six with 22 saves (.786 percent). He is 4-1-1 in those six starts and recorded a pair of shutouts last season. Twice he's made six saves in a contest, including at St. Edward's in a 2-1 victory — the first for the Rattlers in Austin in 13 seasons.
 
The Rattlers were also chosen to finish third in the LSC Preseason poll, getting one first-place vote and 275 points, which is selected by the head coaches, sports information personnel and select media in the league. A year ago, the Rattlers were 8-5-6 and have won two conference titles in five seasons in the league.
 
StMU returns six starters off last season's team and has added 15 talented newcomers (eight freshmen, seven transfers) to this year's squad. The team is 2-0 in exhibition games this season and plays its final exhibition at Trinity at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
 
Defending regular season and LSC Tournament champions, Midwestern State, was chosen to repeat. The Mustangs totaled 362 points and received 32 of the 33 first-place nods. A season ago, they went 20-1-1 overall and reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament. They return preseason offensive and defensive players of the year in Mere Escobar and Juan Galindo.
 
West Texas A&M was picked right ahead of the Rattlers with 303 points. The Buffs were 7-6-5 a year ago. DBU and Texas A&M International round out the top five selections by the voting committee.
 
St. Mary's opens the regular season on Sept. 5 against Our Lady of the Lake at 7:30 p.m. at Sigma Beta Chi Field.
 
Preseason Poll

Rk. School	1st	Total
Midwestern State	32	362
West Texas A&M		303
St. Mary's	1	275
DBU		266
Texas A&M International		211
Lubbock Christian		179
Oklahoma Christian		174
Eastern New Mexico		136
UT Tyler		124
St. Edward's		113
Sul Ross State		35