BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The University of Charleston was unanimously voted as the Mountain East Conference preseason favorite in men’s soccer, following a vote of the league’s eight head coaches.

UC received the maximum of 49 points and seven first-place votes during preseason balloting. Charleston is coming off a 20-2 campaign in 2022 that ended in the national quarterfinals against eventual national champion Franklin Pierce. Charleston returns first team All-MEC goalkeeper Marc Torrado and forward Eduardo Barros to the pitch this season. The Golden Eagles have won five-consecutive MEC Tournament Championships.

Notre Dame was second in the preseason voting with 42 points and the remaining first-place vote, while Davis & Elkins is picked third after receiving 33 points during voting. The Falcons were the No. 8 seed in the NCAA Super Regional last fall and picked up a first round NCAA Tournament victory over Saint Rose in the 8/9 game. The Senators were also selected to the NCAA Tournament field last fall and earned the No. 5 seed in Super Region 1. D&E picked up a 3-0 victory over Mercy in the regional quarterfinals before falling to top seed Franklin Pierce in the regional semifinals.

UC, Notre Dame and Davis & Elkins each appeared in the United Soccer Coaches Division II National Rankings a season ago. Davis & Elkins ranked No. 1 in the country on September 27 and October 4, while Charleston ranked in the Top 10 eight times last seasons. Notre Dame appeared in the polls during the final four weeks of the 2022 season.

West Virginia Wesleyan (32) finished just one point behind D&E and is slotted fourth in the preseason poll. Wheeling (29), Frostburg State (18), West Liberty (13) and Concord (8) rounded out the preseason voting for the 2023 season.

The men’s soccer season begins on Thursday, Aug. 31 with four teams in non-conference action. Conference play begins on Saturday, Sept. 2 and Sunday, Sept. 3.

* Coaches not permitted to vote for own team