After being picked to finish near the bottom of the conference, Oklahoma Christian University men’s soccer exceeded expectations, went undefeated in conference play and put together one of the program’s best seasons in Division II history.
The Oklahoma Christian men’s soccer team entered the 2026 season with something to prove. After being picked to finish ninth in the Lone Star Conference preseason poll, the Eagles responded by putting together one of the most impressive seasons in program history.
That historic run came to an end Wednesday night when the Eagles fell 3-2 to St. Mary’s in the Lone Star Conference Tournament semifinals. However, the loss was just one chapter in a season that saw Oklahoma Christian accomplish things few expected heading into the year.
The Eagles finished with a 10-4-4 overall record, including a 6-0-4 record in conference play. Their undefeated conference run earned them the No. 2 seed in the Lone Star Conference Tournament and the opportunity to host a semifinal match.
What made the accomplishment even more significant was where the Eagles started.
According to the Lone Star Conference preseason poll released in August, Oklahoma Christian was projected to finish ninth out of 11 teams. Instead, the Eagles went undefeated in conference play for the first time in program history.
The Eagles’ success came from their ability to compete against difficult opponents and find ways to get results, even when games were not going their way.
One of the biggest factors in their success was their defense.
According to Oklahoma Christian Athletics, goalkeeper Dante Caffaro recorded eight shutouts throughout the season and allowed just five goals in 10 conference matches.
His performance earned him Lone Star Conference Newcomer of the Year honors, while head coach Neil Hilton and his staff were named the conference’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
Oklahoma Christian also had seven players earn All-Conference recognition, including First Team selections Tyler Ackah-Wheatcroft and Kenzo Shabazz-Edwards.
Those individual accomplishments reflected the success of a team that had quickly gone from being overlooked in the preseason to competing near the top of the conference.
The Eagles carried momentum into Wednesday night’s semifinal, where they had the opportunity to compete for a spot in the conference championship on their home field.
According to Oklahoma Christian Athletics’ game recap, more than 500 fans attended the semifinal at Eagle Soccer Field.
After a scoreless first half, St. Mary’s took the lead on a penalty kick less than two minutes into the second half.
Oklahoma Christian answered in the 77th minute when Shabazz-Edwards scored his seventh goal of the season to tie the game at one.
The Rattlers quickly regained control, scoring twice in the 82nd and 84th minutes to take a 3-1 lead.
With less than seven minutes remaining, the Eagles faced a two-goal deficit and the possibility of their season coming to an end.
But Oklahoma Christian was not finished.
Senior defender Ackah-Wheatcroft scored off a corner kick in the 87th minute, cutting the deficit to one and giving the Eagles another opportunity to complete the comeback.
The Eagles continued pushing forward and had one final shot on goal in the closing seconds, but St. Mary’s goalkeeper made the save to secure the 3-2 victory.
Although the comeback fell short, the effort in the final minutes showed the same determination that had helped the Eagles find success throughout the regular season.
The loss brought an end to a season that had completely changed expectations for Oklahoma Christian men’s soccer.
The Eagles matched their highest win total since joining NCAA Division II, finished conference play without a loss and earned recognition across the Lone Star Conference.
Their success was not limited to one player or one position. From Caffaro’s performances in goal to Shabazz-Edwards’ offensive production and Ackah-Wheatcroft’s contributions on both sides of the field, the Eagles found ways to compete as a team.
For a program that entered the season projected to finish ninth, those accomplishments represented a major step forward.
The Eagles did more than exceed expectations. They showed what Oklahoma Christian men’s soccer is capable of and gave the program something to build on moving forward.
Wednesday night’s loss may have ended their championship hopes, but it does not change what the Eagles accomplished over the course of the season.
Picked ninth in the preseason. Finished second in the conference. Undefeated in conference play. Oklahoma Christian men’s soccer entered the season with something to prove and finished it having made its statement.
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