Photo by: Ella DuPree
William Lawson Named to United Soccer Coaches Defenders to Watch List
8/3/2026 2:19:00 PM | Men's Soccer
KANSAS CITY, MO --- United Soccer Coaches continued its rollout of its players to watch for the 2026 season with the list of Division I defenders on Monday. A list of 20 of the best defenders in Division I soccer included California Baptist's William Lawson as players to watch this season.
The announcement of the positional players to watch list leads up to the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy watch list, which will be released on August 20. The Hermann Trophy is given annually to the top player in Division I soccer.
Lawson enters his second season with the Lancers in 2026 and was a First-Team All-WAC selection last season. Coming to CBU out of Paris, France, Lawson started 16 matches last season and tallied 1,355 minutes for the regular season WAC Champions.
The defender was an anchor to a backline that allowed 1.24 goals per match.
Lawson also contributed on the offensive end, scoring two goals while setting up his teammates with a pair of assists. Lawson's two goals were both game winners, starting with his header seconds before the halftime horn in the Lancers' 1-0 victory against Grand Canyon on October 12.
His heroics took a step further in the finale of the WAC regular season when Lawson scored in the 89th minute against San Diego State to give CBU the lead. The Lancers held on to win the match and clinch the first regular-season conference title of the Lancers' Division I era.
Lawson is one of 20 defenders recognized by United Soccer Coaches on Monday. He is one of two student-athletes representing the Pac-12 on the list. Parker Owens of Cal Poly was also named a Defender to Watch.
The Lancers will begin a new era with the 2026 season, as the men's soccer program transitions from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) to the Pac-12. CBU will play its first-ever Pac-12 match on September 30 when the Lancers visit Gonzaga in Spokane, WA.
CBU will open the season on August 20 with the first of two matches in Durham, NC. The Lancers will play Campbell on day one of the season before battling Duke on August 23. CBU will hold its home opener on August 31 with a 7 p.m. match against Denver.
Tickets for the 2026 season are on sale HERE.
The announcement of the positional players to watch list leads up to the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy watch list, which will be released on August 20. The Hermann Trophy is given annually to the top player in Division I soccer.
Lawson enters his second season with the Lancers in 2026 and was a First-Team All-WAC selection last season. Coming to CBU out of Paris, France, Lawson started 16 matches last season and tallied 1,355 minutes for the regular season WAC Champions.
The defender was an anchor to a backline that allowed 1.24 goals per match.
Lawson also contributed on the offensive end, scoring two goals while setting up his teammates with a pair of assists. Lawson's two goals were both game winners, starting with his header seconds before the halftime horn in the Lancers' 1-0 victory against Grand Canyon on October 12.
His heroics took a step further in the finale of the WAC regular season when Lawson scored in the 89th minute against San Diego State to give CBU the lead. The Lancers held on to win the match and clinch the first regular-season conference title of the Lancers' Division I era.
Lawson is one of 20 defenders recognized by United Soccer Coaches on Monday. He is one of two student-athletes representing the Pac-12 on the list. Parker Owens of Cal Poly was also named a Defender to Watch.
The Lancers will begin a new era with the 2026 season, as the men's soccer program transitions from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) to the Pac-12. CBU will play its first-ever Pac-12 match on September 30 when the Lancers visit Gonzaga in Spokane, WA.
CBU will open the season on August 20 with the first of two matches in Durham, NC. The Lancers will play Campbell on day one of the season before battling Duke on August 23. CBU will hold its home opener on August 31 with a 7 p.m. match against Denver.
Tickets for the 2026 season are on sale HERE.
Players Mentioned
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