Caldeira Named Sun Belt Player of the Year, Six Others Named All-Conference
November 07, 2025 12:00 PM | Men's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Senior Marcus Caldeira of the West Virginia University men's soccer team has been named the Sun Belt Player and Offensive Player of the Year.
Caldeira also earned a spot on the All-Sun Belt First Team along with junior Pablo Pozos. Senior Felix Ewald, graduate student Carlos Hernando, and sophomore Nacho Martinez were named the All-Sun Belt Second Team while Sammie Walker and Juan Alvarez earned spots on the All-Freshman Team.
Caldeira is the fourth Mountaineer and second in a row to be named Conference Player of the Year after Andy Bevin (2014, MAC), Joey Piatczyc (2018, MAC), and Sergio Ors Navarro (2024, Sun Belt). It is the third straight season that Caldeira has been named All-Sun Belt, earning spots on the first team in 2023 and second team in 2024.
Caldeira led the Sun Belt with 25 points this season on nine goals and seven assists, both of which are second in the conference and top 25 in the nation. His five game-winning goals lead the Sun Belt and are second most in the country.
Pozos earns a spot on the All-Sun Belt First Team after leading the conference with 10 goals this season, 14th-most in the country. The Madrid native has played in all 17 games this season with 15 starts in his first year with the Mountaineers.
Ewald has made big contributions this season on both sides of the ball as is third on the team with four goals while contributing to a defense that has allowed just 0.88 goals per game this season and recorded eight shutouts. The Berlin native has also added two assists on the season.
Hernando earns All-Sun Belt honors for the first time after playing in 13 games with 12 starts, totaling over 1,000 minutes. He has been an anchor at the center back position as the Mountaineers allowed a league-low 0.67 goals per game in Sun Belt action, including four shutouts against conference foes. Hernando also added three goals this season, fourth-most on the squad.
Martinez enjoyed a strong first season in the midfield for the Mountaineers, starting all 17 games and leading all outfield players with 1,352 minutes played. As a defensive player, the Argentinian has helped limit chances for WVU opponents as the Mountaineers have allowed just 3.00 shots on goal per game. Additionally, he added one assist this season.
Alvarez has seen action in 13 games this season with seven starts, playing 621 minutes. He has one goal and two assists for the Mountaineers while contributing from his midfield position to eight shutouts this year.
Walker has played in 16 games with one start during his first year in Morgantown. He has two goals this season, including the game-winner at UCF. The Baltimore native has been a consistent threat offensively off the bench with 19 shots this season, 10 of which have been on target.
The Mountaineers return to the pitch on Sunday, Nov. 9, for the quarterfinal round of the Sun Belt Championship against Old Dominion. Kickoff from Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is set for 3 p.m.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Caldeira also earned a spot on the All-Sun Belt First Team along with junior Pablo Pozos. Senior Felix Ewald, graduate student Carlos Hernando, and sophomore Nacho Martinez were named the All-Sun Belt Second Team while Sammie Walker and Juan Alvarez earned spots on the All-Freshman Team.
Caldeira is the fourth Mountaineer and second in a row to be named Conference Player of the Year after Andy Bevin (2014, MAC), Joey Piatczyc (2018, MAC), and Sergio Ors Navarro (2024, Sun Belt). It is the third straight season that Caldeira has been named All-Sun Belt, earning spots on the first team in 2023 and second team in 2024.
Caldeira led the Sun Belt with 25 points this season on nine goals and seven assists, both of which are second in the conference and top 25 in the nation. His five game-winning goals lead the Sun Belt and are second most in the country.
Pozos earns a spot on the All-Sun Belt First Team after leading the conference with 10 goals this season, 14th-most in the country. The Madrid native has played in all 17 games this season with 15 starts in his first year with the Mountaineers.
Ewald has made big contributions this season on both sides of the ball as is third on the team with four goals while contributing to a defense that has allowed just 0.88 goals per game this season and recorded eight shutouts. The Berlin native has also added two assists on the season.
Hernando earns All-Sun Belt honors for the first time after playing in 13 games with 12 starts, totaling over 1,000 minutes. He has been an anchor at the center back position as the Mountaineers allowed a league-low 0.67 goals per game in Sun Belt action, including four shutouts against conference foes. Hernando also added three goals this season, fourth-most on the squad.
Martinez enjoyed a strong first season in the midfield for the Mountaineers, starting all 17 games and leading all outfield players with 1,352 minutes played. As a defensive player, the Argentinian has helped limit chances for WVU opponents as the Mountaineers have allowed just 3.00 shots on goal per game. Additionally, he added one assist this season.
Alvarez has seen action in 13 games this season with seven starts, playing 621 minutes. He has one goal and two assists for the Mountaineers while contributing from his midfield position to eight shutouts this year.
Walker has played in 16 games with one start during his first year in Morgantown. He has two goals this season, including the game-winner at UCF. The Baltimore native has been a consistent threat offensively off the bench with 19 shots this season, 10 of which have been on target.
The Mountaineers return to the pitch on Sunday, Nov. 9, for the quarterfinal round of the Sun Belt Championship against Old Dominion. Kickoff from Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is set for 3 p.m.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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