Five Cougars Earn CAA Preseason Honors
8/17/2026 2:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
RICHMOND, Va. – Five Cougars from the men's soccer team earned Coastal Athletic Association preseason honors for the 2026 season.
Ben Baldwin and Matt Lenert earned preseason All-CAA Team acclaim, while Stian Bendvold, Lennon Gill and Dan Toulson collected honorable mention nods. CofC's five preseason honorees are tied for the most by any team in the CAA.
All five players return to the Charleston lineup, with two earning postseason honors for the 2025 season.
Baldwin received his first collegiate award after appearing in 16 matches and making 14 starts last year. During his sophomore campaign, Baldwin anchored Charleston's defense as he recorded 1,285 minutes on the pitch and helped the Cougars record five shutouts. The Dallas, Texas native has tallied one assist and totaled nine shots during his first two seasons with the Cougars.
Lenert played in all 17 of Charleston's matches and made 16 starts during the 2025 campaign. He scored five goals, including game-winners against then-ranked #15 North Carolina and USC Upstate last season. The Falls Church, Virginia native made the 2025 All-CAA First Team and earned 2025 United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic First Team recognition. This season, Lenert has already been named to the Missouri Athletic Club's (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List.
Bendvold earned his first collegiate award following two seasons with the Cougars where he's seen action in every match. Over his career, the Begby, Norway native has made 17 starts, tallied three goals, logged 41 shots and played over 1,800 minutes for the Cougars.
Gill also collected his first collegiate honor as he begins his junior year with CofC. After transferring to Charleston last year, Gill appeared in all 17 matches, made eight starts and tallied three goals and one assist during his sophomore season. During his collegiate career, the Dublin, Ireland native has played in 31 matches, made 15 starts and scored seven goals.
Following an impressive debut season where he made the CAA All-Rookie Team, Toulson earned his second CAA honor. During his freshman year, the Harrogate, England native appeared in 13 matches, made 11 starts, logged 857 minutes and helped CofC tab four shutouts.
The Cougars enter the season picked as the third place team in the South Division Poll.
Charleston men's soccer opens the 2026 season at home at 5 p.m. against Davidson on Thursday, August 20. During the 2026 campaign, all eight of the Cougar's home matches are free to attend and feature engaging themes, giveaways and special events. Specific promotional information for each game can be found HERE. Those interested in group experiences can click HERE to learn more about the Cougar Group Experience program!
The full CAA preseason awards are listed below:
North Division
Preseason All-CAA Team
For complete coverage of Charleston men's soccer, follow us on X (@CofCSoccer) and Instagram (@CofCSoccer).
Ben Baldwin and Matt Lenert earned preseason All-CAA Team acclaim, while Stian Bendvold, Lennon Gill and Dan Toulson collected honorable mention nods. CofC's five preseason honorees are tied for the most by any team in the CAA.
All five players return to the Charleston lineup, with two earning postseason honors for the 2025 season.
Baldwin received his first collegiate award after appearing in 16 matches and making 14 starts last year. During his sophomore campaign, Baldwin anchored Charleston's defense as he recorded 1,285 minutes on the pitch and helped the Cougars record five shutouts. The Dallas, Texas native has tallied one assist and totaled nine shots during his first two seasons with the Cougars.
Lenert played in all 17 of Charleston's matches and made 16 starts during the 2025 campaign. He scored five goals, including game-winners against then-ranked #15 North Carolina and USC Upstate last season. The Falls Church, Virginia native made the 2025 All-CAA First Team and earned 2025 United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic First Team recognition. This season, Lenert has already been named to the Missouri Athletic Club's (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List.
Bendvold earned his first collegiate award following two seasons with the Cougars where he's seen action in every match. Over his career, the Begby, Norway native has made 17 starts, tallied three goals, logged 41 shots and played over 1,800 minutes for the Cougars.
Gill also collected his first collegiate honor as he begins his junior year with CofC. After transferring to Charleston last year, Gill appeared in all 17 matches, made eight starts and tallied three goals and one assist during his sophomore season. During his collegiate career, the Dublin, Ireland native has played in 31 matches, made 15 starts and scored seven goals.
Following an impressive debut season where he made the CAA All-Rookie Team, Toulson earned his second CAA honor. During his freshman year, the Harrogate, England native appeared in 13 matches, made 11 starts, logged 857 minutes and helped CofC tab four shutouts.
The Cougars enter the season picked as the third place team in the South Division Poll.
Charleston men's soccer opens the 2026 season at home at 5 p.m. against Davidson on Thursday, August 20. During the 2026 campaign, all eight of the Cougar's home matches are free to attend and feature engaging themes, giveaways and special events. Specific promotional information for each game can be found HERE. Those interested in group experiences can click HERE to learn more about the Cougar Group Experience program!
The full CAA preseason awards are listed below:
North Division
- Hofstra (8)
- Stony Brook (1)
- Monmouth (1)
- Drexel
- Northeastern
- Elon (9)
- UNCW (1)
- Charleston
- Campbell
- William & Mary
Preseason All-CAA Team
- Victor Anderson (Monmouth)
- Ben Baldwin (Charleston)
- Alex Fleury (Stony Brook)
- Osei Gyamfi (UNCW)
- Magnus Jacobsen (Elon)
- Weston Jonke (Elon)
- Martin Kozak (Elon)
- Matt Lenert (Charleston)
- Finlay Oliver (Stony Brook)
- Dominik Renz (Elon)
- Jake Roberts (UNCW)
- Pietro Santi (Hofstra)
- Morgan Worsfold-Gregg (Drexel)
- Trey Smiley (UNCW)
For complete coverage of Charleston men's soccer, follow us on X (@CofCSoccer) and Instagram (@CofCSoccer).
Players Mentioned
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