After flashing his talent with the OKC Energy U23 during the 2016 PDL season, Southern Methodist University forward Mauro Cichero has been unanimously selected for American Athletic Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors.

The league's eight head coaches selected Cichero, who scored four goals and provided one assist in four games during the PDL regular season, Preseason Offensive Player of the Year ahead of forwards Abdou Mbacke Thiam of UConn, Nazeem Bartman of the University of South Florida and Jorge Gomez Sanchez of Temple University.

• RELATED: PDL Top Prospect Chaney Signs with USL's Republic FC

Cichero excelled in his time with the Energy U23, leading them to four wins while scoring once in each game. Before leaving the Energy U23, the 6-foot-3 SMU talent was ranked fourth in the 2016 PDL Top Prospects list.

In 2015, Cichero experienced a breakout season with SMU. He scored 10 goals and provided nine assists en route to being named American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and being named a Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Semifinalist.

Cichero and SMU kick off their 2016 college season against Michigan State University on Aug. 26. To read more about the 2016 American Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Preseason Honors, visit theamerican.org.com.