CHICO, Calif. - The awards keep coming for the Chico State men's soccer team as the year winds down. Emanuel Padilla and Preston Moll add a new accolade to the list, earning United Soccer Coaches All-American honors.

Preston Moll earns Second-Team, and Emanuel Padilla earns Third-Team honors on the 2023 NCAA DII United Soccer Coaches All-American list.

Preston Moll was vital to the Wildcat's defensive success this year and their offensive prowess on the attack. Scoring a handful of highlight-worthy goals this season, the Cameron Park native captained the back line to ten shutouts while using his dangerous left boot to leave the opposing team's goalkeepers stunned with vicious strikes in the attacking third. 

The left-outside defender played almost every single moment of the season, missing out on only 40 minutes, thirteen of those minutes after scoring his first brace of his collegiate career against Saint Martin's in a trip to the great north. An overlooked element of Moll's game is his capacity to whip any cross into a dangerous spot in the middle of the box, almost scoring from impossible angles on a handful of occasions. 

A technical defender with the ball at his feet exudes confidence on the ball with attackers pressing and strength to power opponents off the ball in 1-on-1 situations. 

He finished his junior year with five goals and two assists, second on the Wildcats in goals and points from the 2023 season. 

Moll will return to the Wildcats for his final season, bringing back even greater experience from appearing in his first NCAA DII National Tournament against CSU Pueblo in November. 

Emanuel Padilla previously earned All-American honors before joining the Wildcats from Santa Rosa Junior College after an impressive stint in his first two years. However, by joining the Chico State Wildcats, Padilla stepped into a net to face some of the most impressive squads in the west region and beyond—teams like Cal State LA and Cal Poly Pomona. These squads have been considerable contenders in the national tournament for decades.

Padilla, a Santa Rosa native, made waves throughout the region from the first match of the season, holding teams alongside his back line to scoreless for the first nine games of the season against strong non-conference opponents. His ability to react to dangerous situations with the ball in his box and players crashing toward the net makes him a vital component in the overall strength of the Wildcat's defense. 

He only allowed 13 goals throughout 20 games, making incredible saves to secure the wins against teams like Biola and Dominican from the PacWest. The power in his right boot is on the level of professional keepers, booting the ball from box to box occasionally, earning an assist in his first home game against Seattle Pacific.

The 6-3 keeper from Santa Rosa made 70 saves in the season, boasting a humble attitude about all the attention, awards, and accolades passed on to him. He leads with a level-headed mentality and looks comfortable even in the most nail-biting moments with the opposing strikers only 12 yards away. 

Congratulations to both of these Wildcats on an incredible season and earning this well-deserved honor.