RALEIGH, N.C. - William Peace University men's soccer earned two of the USA South Athletic Conference's top individual honors for the 2026 season, with junior Roberto Rayo named Player of the Year and freshman Chris Rodriguez selected as Rookie of the Year. Both Pacers also received First Team All-Conference recognition, while senior Joey Hurley earned Second Team honors and junior Topher Johnson was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team.
Rayo becomes the second player in program history to earn USA South Player of the Year honors, joining Jorge Lemus, who received the award in 2022. Rodriguez is the third Pacer to be named Rookie of the Year, following Ivan Ponce in 2018 and Josh Rutland in 2022.
A junior midfielder from Vilnius, Lithuania, Rayo finished the season with seven goals and four assists for a team-high 18 points. He appeared in 17 matches, recording 37 shots with 18 on goal. During conference play, Rayo scored five goals and added two assists, ranking second in the USA South in goals against conference opponents.
Rayo played a key role in Peace's conference campaign, including a two-goal performance in the Pacers' 3-2 victory over Pfeiffer on Sept. 30. His selection marks the first All-Conference recognition of his collegiate career.
Rodriguez, a freshman midfielder from Wilson, N.C., finished his first collegiate season with seven goals and three assists for 17 points. He appeared in 17 matches and recorded three game-winning goals, tied for the team lead in scoring with Rayo.
Against USA South opponents, Rodriguez led the conference with 13 points on six goals and one assist. His season included a hat trick in Peace's 8-0 victory over Mary Baldwin on Oct. 13, becoming the first Pacer to score three goals in a match since Jorge Aguilar accomplished the feat in 2022. Rodriguez also earned USA South Rookie of the Week honors twice during the season.
Hurley, a senior defender, earned Second Team All-Conference recognition after appearing in 17 matches for the Pacers. He recorded one goal and two assists while contributing to Peace's defensive efforts throughout the season. The honor marks his second career All-Conference selection after earning Second Team recognition in 2023.
Johnson was selected to the USA South All-Sportsmanship Team. The junior forward appeared in all 18 matches, finishing with seven goals and two assists for 16 points. He also recorded 23 shots, including 14 on goal.
William Peace concluded the 2026 season with an 8-7-3 overall record and a 3-2-2 mark in conference play.
