ACC Men’s Soccer Coaches Select UNC as Preseason Favorite

With the college men’s soccer season set to begin late next week, the ACC released its annual preseason coaches poll on Wednesday–with UNC chosen to win the league this year.

The Tar Heels earned first place votes from five of the conference’s 12 head coaches, which was two more than runner-up Clemson.

Notre Dame picked up two votes for first place, while Wake Forest and Virginia each had one.

By virtue of being chosen to win the whole league, UNC was also the favorite to take home the Coastal Division crown.

Clemson, last season’s NCAA runner-up, was picked to win the Atlantic Division.

The ACC is looked at by many as the best conference in college soccer–as it led the NCAA with seven tournament teams in 2015, while also being the highest-rated league in the RPI rankings.

For 15 straight seasons, the ACC has also had at least one team qualify for the national semifinals.

UNC put together a solid 15-2-3 season last year, but had its season ended with a loss to the Creighton Blue Jays in the NCAA Round of 16.

The Tar Heels will again count on the production of 6-foot-5 forward Tucker Hume. A redshirt senior out of San Angelo, Texas, Hume led the team with 11 goals and five assists in 2015–which was more than any of his teammates had in either category.

Cal Poly will help get the season officially underway when they travel to Chapel Hill for the opening game on Friday, Aug. 26.

2016 ACC Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
(First place votes)

Overall Champion
North Carolina (5)
Clemson (3)
Notre Dame (2)
Virginia (1)
Wake Forest (1)

Atlantic Division
1. Clemson (6) – 64
2. Wake Forest (6) – 62
3. Syracuse – 50
4. Boston College – 34
5. Louisville – 28
6. NC State – 14

Coastal Division
1. North Carolina (8) – 66
2. Notre Dame (4) – 62
3. Virginia – 50
4. Duke – 33
5. Pitt – 21
6. Virginia Tech – 20