NEW ORLEANS – West Virginia senior forward Marcus Caldeira earns Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year to headline the league’s 2025 all-conference teams and individual awards, voted by the leagues head coaches.
Caldeira was named the preseason player of the year for the 2025 season and fulfilled expectations earning the Sun Belt’s top honor as well as the leagues offensive player of the year. Caldeira led the league in points with 25, coming from nine goals and seven assists, while also leading the league in game-winning goals with five on the year. The senior surpassed 30 career goals earlier in the season with a current total of 37, the most of any active player in the Sun Belt. Caldeira leads the West Virginia offense that ranks top of the league in scoring average (2.059), goals (35), assists (36) and points (106). The senior was also named to the 2025 Hermann Midseason Watchlist.
Georgia Southern’s Noah Holmstrom was the defensive leader for the Eagles', aiding in eight shutouts this season, the most in a season since 2006. Holmstrom led the defense to a .500 shutout percentage which ties for 18th in the nation and .765 goals against average, good for 26
th nationally and leads the Sun Belt. Holmstrom was a starter in every match in 2025, playing the full ninety minutes in all but one match when he was pulled in the 78th minute with a 3-0 lead over Mercer, logging 1,518 minutes on the pitch.
Sebastian Conlon earned goalkeeper of the year for the second consecutive year, proving to be steadfast in goal while serving as a captain for the Wildcats. Conlon also earned the preseason goalkeeper of the year nod after transferring from James Madison. Conlon has recorded 45 saves with a .741 save percentage and 14 goals allowed, which ranks second in the Sun Belt. He recorded seven clean sheets and started in all 15 games this season for the Wildcats. The senior was also named to the 2025 Hermann Midseason Watchlist on Oct. 16 and to the TopDrawerSoccer Midseason Top 100 on Oct. 19, coming in at No. 60.
Lilian Ricol made an immediate impact at UCF leading the team in goals scored with nine and producing 20 points. Ricol totaled 40 shot attempts throughout the season, including 24 on target. Six of his nine goals this season came in conference play, highlighted by his first career hat trick against James Madison and the game-winner in UCF's 3-0 shutout win over then-No. 11 Georgia Southern. He finished the season ranking among Sun Belt Conference leaders in goals with nine 9, (T-2nd), points per game with 1.33 (3rd) and total points with 20 (4th).
Emil Seedorff was a difference maker for the Eagles with seven goals this season, the most by a freshman in the Sun Belt. He paired with his two assists he finished the regular season with 16 points on the year, the most by a freshman in the conference. Seedorff scored in his first career match against and would score Georgia Southern’s lone goal against Kentucky. He ended the regular season with his first career hat trick against South Carolina. His hat trick was just the third occurrence in program history since 2000.
Johan Cedergren In his 14th season as the head coach at Kentucky earns Sun Belt coach of the year. Cedergren has led the program to its 11th winning season during his tenure and the 13th all-time. The Wildcats also earned their second SBC Regular Season title since joining the conference prior to the 2022 season, a year in which Cedergren also won Sun Belt Coach of the Year. Kentucky also looks to reach its 11th NCAA Tournament under Cedergren in the same season he captured his 150th career win in Lexington.
Kentucky and West Virginia both produced seven all-conference selections as two of seven programs with multiple honorees. Marshall and Georgia Southern had five a piece, followed by UCF (4), Coastal Carolina (2) and South Carolina (2). Old Dominion also had one selection.
The Sun Belt Men’s Soccer Championship kicks off Sunday, November 7 with No. 1 Kentucky and No. 2 West Virginia hosting the opening rounds.
2025 Sun Belt Conference Men’s Soccer Awards
Player of the Year
Marcus Caldeira, F, West Virginia
Offensive Player of the Year
Marcus Caldeira, F, West Virginia
Defensive Player of the Year
Noah Holmstrom, D, Georgia Southern
Goalkeeper of the Year
Sebastian Conlon, GK, Kentucky
Newcomer of the Year
Lilian Ricol, F, UCF
Freshman of the Year
Emil Seedorff, M, Georgia Southern
Coach of the Year
Johan Cedergren, Kentucky
All-Sun Belt Conference First Team
F - Marcus Caldeira, West Virginia
F – Ricky Louis, Georgia Southern
F – Lilian Ricol, UCF
F – Pablo Pozos, West Virginia
M – Clarence Awoudor, UCF
M – Loed Klaasen, Coastal Carolina
M – Agustin Lopez, Kentucky
D – Takahiro Fujita, Marshall
D – Noah Holmstrom, Georgia Southern
D – Marqes Muir, Kentucky
GK – Sebastian Conlon, Kentucky
All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team
F – Ethan Ballek, South Carolina
F – Isaiah Chisolm, Kentucky
F – Lewis Rouke, Old Dominion
F – Alex Ruiz, Kentucky
M – Kevin Larsson, Kentucky
M – Nacho Martinez, West Virginia
M – Rai Pinto, Marshall
D – Felix Ewald, West Virginia
D – Carlos Hernando, West Virginia
D – David de la Vibora, Marshall
GK – Nate Martinez, Georgia Southern
All-Sun Belt Conference Freshman Team
F – Angel Lopez, Coastal Carolina
F – Seiryu Ono, UCF
F – Sammie Walker, West Virginia
M – Juan Alvarez, West Virginia
M – Marcus Andersen, Kentucky
M – Matthew DeJianne, South Carolina
M – Emil Seedorff, Georgia Southern
D – Joao Alves, Marshall
D – Loir Holtz, Georgia Southern
D – Jem Hewlett, UCF
D – David de la Vibora, Marshall