BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2026 Gulf South Conference men's soccer yearly awards honored three members of top-seeded Trevecca Nazarene and a first-year student-athlete from West Alabama, while the All-GSC teams include players from eight programs. The All-GSC teams and yearly award winners were voted on by conference head coaches.
The Trojan trio includes forward Chris Douglas who captured his first career Offensive Player of the Year award, goalkeeper Hunter Walker named as Defensive Player of the Year, and Danny Leavy voted as Coach of the Year.
West Alabama Florian Laot was honored as the Conference's Freshman of the Year.
The GSC regular season champion, Trevecca Nazarene, had the most players selected as All-GSC with six honorees. AUM, Lee, Montevallo, UAH, and West Alabama each had 4 members named as honorees, while Montevallo had two.
Douglas tied for the conference's most goals at 18, including the most game-winners with six. The junior started 13 of 14 matches and currently ranks No. 1 overall in NCAA Division II in goals per game (1.29) and points per game (2.93). The award is the first ever for a Trojan since the school joined the GSC in 2024.
Walker played every minute of the season in goal - 1,440 in total - finishing among conference leaders in saves (3rd/64), shutouts (2nd/7), and goals against average (3rd/0.94). The Franklin, Tenn., native conceded 15 goals on 185 shots faced (.810 save percentage) and currently ranks among Division II's Top 20 in shutouts, saves, and save percentage. He is the fourth goalkeeper and first Trojan to take home GSC defensive honors.
Laot had a standout rookie campaign and was among the GSC leaders in a handful of categories—goals (8th/7), assists (5th/6), and shots on goal (10th/16). He also placed 10th in game-winning goals (2), while starting 14 of 16 games. The French-born midfielder is the second-ever Tiger to win GSC Freshman of the Year, the first since David Nunez in 2023.
Leavy was tabbed GSC Coach of the Year in his 18th season as head coach of TNU. Under his direction, Trevecca Nazarene claimed its first GSC regular season title, and the No. 1-seed in the GSC Championship, with a conference record of 7-1-2, while going 13-1-2 overall. The Trojans outscored their opponents 40-15 and led the conference in scoring margin (1.56), total shots (231), points per game (7.75) assists (33) and assists (44). Nationally, TNU ranks second in assists per game (2.75) and total assists, fifth in points per game, and 10th in both goals per game (2.50) and save percentage (.819).
2026 GSC Men's Soccer Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Chris Douglas, Trevecca Nazarene
Defensive Player of the Year: Hunter Walker, Trevecca Nazarene
Freshman of the Year: Florian Laot, West Alabama
Coach of the Year: Danny Leavy, Trevecca Nazarene
2026 Men's Soccer First Team All-GSC ‡
GK: Hunter Walker, Trevecca Nazarene
GK: Jakob Buhrkuhl, AUM
D: Alan De Paula, AUM*
D: Jesse Thompson, Lee
D: Oisin Griffin, West Alabama*
D: Gage Sorey, Mississippi Christian^
D: Haden Brown, Trevecca Nazarene
M: Jack Franklin, Trevecca Nazarene
M: Alexander Mueller, Montevallo
M: Donovan Pruitte, UAH
M: Florian Laot, West Alabama
F: Chris Douglas, Trevecca Nazarene
F: Oli Orzechowski, UAH*#
F: David Nunez, West Alabama^
F: Joaquin Wladdimiro, Montevallo
2026 Men's Soccer Second Team All-GSC
GK: Charles Carriglitto, Lee
D: Luke Butcher, AUM
D: Oliver Rigby, UAH
D: Wesley Atoyebi, UAH
D: Lucas Atria, Montevallo
M: Jesper Bakli, West Alabama
M: Andreas Aspris, Lee
M: Hayden Mulrooney, Mississippi Christian
M: Dakota Hart, Montevallo
F: Benjamin Hoffman, AUM
F: Daniel Shiel, Trevecca Nazarene
F: Max Rode, Lee
F: Judah Jones, Trevecca Nazarene
^ 2025 First Team All-GSC
* 2025 Second Team All-GSC
# 2024 Second Team All-GSC
‡ Voting resulted in expanded roster