EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Coming off a 2025 season that saw the Aces claim a share of the MVC regular season title and the number one seed in the MVC Tournament, the University of Evansville men's soccer team has been picked third in the MVC Preseason Poll ahead of the 2026 campaign, the league office announced on Monday. Sophomore Devin Shepherd (Denver, Colo./Arapahoe) represented Evansville on the league's Preseason All-Conference team.
 
Evansville enters the 2026 season looking to build on the success of the last two seasons, winning the MVC Tournament title in 2024 before earning a share of their first regular season conference title since 1991 in 2025. Tabbed third in the preseason poll, the selection is Evansville's highest in the preseason poll since 2017. Western Michigan was picked as the preseason favorite, while Drake was picked second.
 
Shepherd earns a spot on the Preseason All-MVC team after being named to the MVC All-Freshman Team in 2025 and finishing the season ranked 51^st in Top Drawer Soccer's Freshman Top 100. Shepherd started all 20 matches for the Purple Aces in his first collegiate season. Shepherd finished the season second on the team in goals (5) and points (12) and notched a brace against Xavier for the first brace by a UE freshman in three years.
 
Evansville opens the 2026 campaign on Thursday with a trip to Louisville to battle Bellarmine. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Central.