Eastern Illinois men's soccer team enters its second season under head coach Ruy Vaz as the Panthers have been selected fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll released on Thursday.  

EIU posted a 4-9-4 record last season, including a 3-4-3 mark in OVC play, and advanced to the OVC Tournament in Vaz's first season at the helm.  

The Panthers will be represented in the OVC Preseason Players to Watch list by sophomore midfielder Connor Bayliss. Bayliss played in 15 matches last season with six starts and 642 minutes played.  

EIU returns a number of players from last year's squad, including forwards Gui Grangnano and Adam Boykin, along with midfielders Bayliss as previously mentioned and Landon Martin and defenders Patrick Osilaja and Daniel Freire. The Panthers will look to build on last year's OVC tournament appearance as they enter their fourth season competing in the conference.  

The Panthers opened the preseason with an exhibition against Lewis and Clark Community College on August 9 and will host UIC on August 15 for their second exhibition. The regular season opener will take place at Omaha on Thursday, August 20. EIU will open up OVC play at home against Western Illinois on Saturday, September 26 at Lakeside Field.  

2026 OVC Men's Soccer Predicted Order of Finish

1. Lindenwood (11 first-place votes) 94 points  

2. HCU (2) 80 

 SIUE (3) 80  

4. Eastern Illinois 52  

5. UTRGV 46 

 6. UIW 42  

7. Western Illinois 36  

8. Southern Indiana 18  

2026 OVC Men's Soccer Preseason Players to Watch

 Conner Bayliss (CB, So.), Eastern Illinois  

Ryan Okerayi (F, Sr.), HCU 

 Luca Bartoni (F, Sr.), Lindenwood  

Mathias Clausen (D, So.), SIUE 

 Garrett Morris (MF, Fifth Year), Southern Indiana  

Diego Robles (F, Jr.), UIW  

Mouhamed Pouye (MF, Sr.), UTRGV  

Xavier Gagnon (F, Sr., Western Illinois