In a poll of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Soccer Coaches, the University of St. Thomas men's soccer team was selected to finish 3rd in the 2024 Southern Collegiate Athletics Conference Regular Season.
With three additional schools added to the conference this summer, the SCAC has grown to 12 men's soccer programs. Colorado College received 6 first-place votes after advancing to the Elite Eight last season in the NCAA D3 Men's Soccer National Tournament. The Trinity Tigers garnered 2 first-place votes, while the three-time defending SCAC Tournament Champion Celts St. Thomas, were picked to win the league by three coaches and received 118 total points.
Following a 14-4-1 2023 season, the Celts are looking to exceed their third-place prediction and earn their first-ever regular-season SCAC Championship. St. Thomas is under the new leadership of Head Coach Ernesto Ramirez, who is joining UST after knocking the Celts out of the 2023 NCAA Tourney as an Assistant Coach at Occidental College.
St. Thomas welcomes back an experienced group determined to defend its SCAC Tournament crown. The Celts return SCAC All-Conference members Ian Alvarez, Angel Ramirez, Diego Lazo, and Daniel Castro. Among the returnees is senior forward Daniel Castro, who finished second in the conference in total points with 34 (14 goals; 6 assists).
The St. Thomas season begins on Friday, September 6th when they host North American University at SaberCats Stadium. Kick-off is 4:00 PM. Following their home opener, the Celts return two days later to play Howard Payne University at 4:00 PM at Sabercats' Stadium.
For more information, check out the Celts on www.ustcelts.com or follow @ustmsoccer on Instagram.
