In just two years since its return, St. Edward's has transferred from a rebuilding project to a conference contender. After a run to the Lone Star Conference semifinals last year, the Hilltoppers return to the pitch with bigger goals and higher expectations.
 
The program has seen exponential growth since its 2023 return season, flipping its record from 1-10-5 in its first year back to last year's 8-6-4 turnaround. From a freshman-heavy team to a now balanced, bonded, and experienced group, the 2025 Hilltoppers are ready to take on the conference and make an even bigger impact. 
 
Reigning LSC Coach of the Year Brian Young attributes this growth to fostering a strong culture and winning mindset through two seasons. The 13 players who remain from the 2023 season have emerged as natural leaders due to their understanding of what we expect of them and the program.
 
"The fitness level, the commitment level, and just the quality of soccer players have increased a lot," Young said. "When coaching the system, I think we're getting better. Guys understand the system, and they can teach it to anybody else who steps in and can say, 'This is how we want to play, this is how we do it.'" 
 
This season, the Hilltoppers add 10 freshmen and three transfers to 26 returners, building a roster that is more eager than ever to win big. Both on and off the pitch, the men's soccer program has taken an enormous step forward when it comes to culture, leadership, communication, and grit.
 
"Bringing in older guys, including Arthur, you can see the big change because of the experience they had," LSC Player to Watch and third-year player in the program Irvin Abarca said. "Bringing in that experience makes the players want to try harder." 
 
ARTHUR SOUZA is one of the reinstated program's first transfer portal success stories. Souza arrived on the hilltop in the spring of 2024, bringing depth and experience to the young program, playing in the spring games and setting the tone for the 2024 season, becoming team captain in the fall, and returning to lead the team.
 
"When I got here, a lot of the players were okay with tying and losing," the 2025 LSC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year said. "But now in everything that we do, everyone wants to win. So just having a mentality to win every little detail we do will obviously translate into the games and winning every game."
 
Last year, the graduate forward finished second in the LSC in goals scored with eight total, three of which were game winners. Souza understands the expectations that are now set on the team after making the semifinals, using them as fuel to bring the championship home this year.
 
"The new expectation is making the tournament and winning games. That's the bottom line," Souza said. "To build off that now, we have to go and win the whole thing, and that's just our goal for this year."
 
The program continues to evolve, promoting Corey Miller from assistant coach to associate head coach, and adding lights to Lewis-Chen Family Field, bringing the first night home games in program history. 
 
"I think it's the way soccer should be played, under the lights," Young said. "I think it's a fair playing field, and hopefully we can engage the fans more and just have a great soccer environment for all the student athletes."
 
What remains a constant is the team and culture building that was a constant in Young's tenure before the program went on hiatus. 
 
"The one thing that we need to maintain is the bonds that we form off the field," Souza said. "The team last year had a rough start, and we came back here knowing that we had to form better bonds off the field, be really close with each other because that translates on the field, and having each other's backs, working hard for each other, and trusting each other."
 
Men's soccer season opens on Thursday, Sept. 4, against Delta State University, making it the program's first-ever official night game.