University of St. Thomas Athletics
Summit League Releases Men’s Soccer Players to Watch and Coaches’ Poll
8/19/2026 11:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Moritz Krenc and Merrick Schaefer appear on the preseason players to watch
ST. PAUL, Minn. – St. Thomas men's soccer has been picked to finish tied for fifth place in the Summit League by the conference's head coaches after a program-best 7-5-5 record in 2025. The new-look Tommies will feature 18 newcomers and 10 returners. Among the returners are standout goalkeeper Moritz Krenc and midfield stalwart Merrick Schaefer, who were selected as the Tommies' Players to Watch.
Summit League Coaches' Poll
1. Kansas City – 25 points (5 1st place votes)
2. Delaware – 21 points (1 1st place votes)
3. Massachusetts – 16 points
4. Oral Roberts – 10 points
5. St. Thomas – 9 points
6. Omaha – 9 points
The Toms scored more goals than ever in the DI era (24), allowed fewer goals (22), won more games (7), and finished the season with an unbeaten 4-0-4 record at South Field in 2025.
Players to Watch
The Tommies were anchored by goalkeeper Moritz Krenc through a majority of last season before the German missed the latter half of the year with an injury. Before going down 13 games into the 2025 season, he was 6-4-3 with 1.50 goals-against average, and four shutouts -- all career bests.
Merrick Schaefer was a large part of that stout defense last season, playing 1,153 minutes across 15 games in the midfield (76 minutes per game played). The Eagan, Minn., native is expected to emerge into an even larger role in 2026.
Up Next
The Tommies open their 2026 campaign with a pair of home games against Detroit Mercy, August 20 at 1 p.m. and Green Bay on August 23 at 1 p.m.
St. Thomas has never played Detroit Mercy, a team that finished eighth in the Horizon League last season with a 5-10-3 record. Sunday's matchup will be the sixth between the Tommies and the Phoenix. Green Bay has a 2-1-2 record in the series and has never lost a game at South Field.
Summit League Coaches' Poll
1. Kansas City – 25 points (5 1st place votes)
2. Delaware – 21 points (1 1st place votes)
3. Massachusetts – 16 points
4. Oral Roberts – 10 points
5. St. Thomas – 9 points
6. Omaha – 9 points
The Toms scored more goals than ever in the DI era (24), allowed fewer goals (22), won more games (7), and finished the season with an unbeaten 4-0-4 record at South Field in 2025.
Players to Watch
The Tommies were anchored by goalkeeper Moritz Krenc through a majority of last season before the German missed the latter half of the year with an injury. Before going down 13 games into the 2025 season, he was 6-4-3 with 1.50 goals-against average, and four shutouts -- all career bests.
Merrick Schaefer was a large part of that stout defense last season, playing 1,153 minutes across 15 games in the midfield (76 minutes per game played). The Eagan, Minn., native is expected to emerge into an even larger role in 2026.
Up Next
The Tommies open their 2026 campaign with a pair of home games against Detroit Mercy, August 20 at 1 p.m. and Green Bay on August 23 at 1 p.m.
St. Thomas has never played Detroit Mercy, a team that finished eighth in the Horizon League last season with a 5-10-3 record. Sunday's matchup will be the sixth between the Tommies and the Phoenix. Green Bay has a 2-1-2 record in the series and has never lost a game at South Field.
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's SoccerSaturday, October 29
Saturday, October 30
Saturday, October 23
Saturday, October 02
