Game Notes

CANYON, Texas – The No. 17-ranked Buffaloes of West Texas A&M open the 2022 season with a non-conference matchup against Lone Star Conference foe St. Mary's University. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at The Pitch.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Thursday's match marks the 30th meeting between the two schools since the series started on Nov. 2, 1991. The Buffaloes and Rattlers played two close matches in 2021 with the Rattlers taking both games.  WT leads the all-time series 21-6-2.
 
BUTCH LAUFFER
Butch Lauffer is in his 32nd season as head men's soccer coach at West Texas A&M University.  As the longest tenured head coach in WT history, Lauffer has coached the men to 29 consecutive non-losing seasons and the women to 12-plus victories in 12 seasons. Lauffer has recorded a 364-160-39 (.678) record at the helm of the Buffs with a 553-227-56 (.693) overall record at WT.
 
National Standings
West Texas A&M men's soccer ranked 17th in the United Soccer Coaches Division II Top-25 Preseason Poll. Cal State-Los Angeles ranked first in the national standings followed by Charleston, Nova Southeastern, Indianapolis, and Cal Poly Pomona.  
 
LSC PRESEASON POLL
Midwestern State was tabbed the conference favorite with 15 of 26 possible first-place votes and 245 total points as voted on by the league coaches, sports information directors and media representatives.
 
WT followed seven first-place votes and 230 points. St. Mary's finished third (three first-place, 199) while Lubbock Christian (one first-place, 162) and UT Tyler (153) rounded out the top five. Texas A&M International received the sixth spot with 128 points followed by UT Permian Basin (100) and Oklahoma Christian (83). DBU (78) and Eastern New Mexico (52) finished out the poll.
 
Lone Star Conference Championship
The tournament starts on Tuesday, November 1 with quarterfinal matches. The semifinal and championship matches, hosted by the No. 1 seed, will be held on Friday, November 4 and Sunday, November 6.
 
Up Next
The Buffs hit the road for their first road trip of the season as WT travels to take on Western Washington.