The preseason polls for men’s soccer in the ACC were released Tuesday morning. Among a loaded conference, Carolina was picked to finish a close second in the Coastal Division, just behind Pitt.

The Tar Heels received 52 overall points and five first-place votes in the Coastal Division, while the Panthers received 57 points and six first-place votes. Both Carolina and Pitt received two votes to win the conference overall, but both trailed defending national champion and preseason No. 1 Clemson, who received six. The Tigers are also the heavy favorite to win the Atlantic Division, receiving nine of 12 first-place votes. Wake Forest received three.

To view the full ACC poll, click here.

The ACC features six teams in the preseason United Soccer Coaches poll, the most of any league nationwide. Joining the Tigers in the top 10 are No. 4 Notre Dame and No. 7 Pittsburgh. No. 12 Duke, No. 15 Wake Forest and No. 24 UNC are also featured in the poll.

To view the full United Soccer Coaches poll, click here.

In addition, UNC graduate midfielder Sebastian Schacht was named to the ACC’s preseason watch list. Schacht is a transfer from Saint Mary’s.

The Tar Heels are currently in the middle of a three-match exhibition season, which will conclude Friday at James Madison. Carolina beat USC Upstate 3-0 on Sunday and tied Mount Olive 1-1 Monday night. The regular season will get underway when UNC hosts Air Force at Dorrance Field on August 25 as part of the Carolina Nike Classic.

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