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FAIRMONT, W. Va. – Davis & Elkins College and the University of Charleston were selected as the north and south division favorites in the 2026 Mountain East Conference Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll, the league announced on Thursday.
Davis & Elkins was chosen as the north division favorite, receiving five first place votes while Charleston leads the south division, with six first place votes.
The poll was decided on by the league’s 10 head coaches.
Davis & Elkins finished the 2025 season with an overall record of 8-7-4, with a mark of 7-5-4 in conference play. The Senators fell to south division favorite Charleston in last year’s MEC Championship Semifinals match. D&E returns this season with all-conference selections Francisco Lopez Kreik, Hugo Fauli, Charlie Phillips and Souleymane Baal.
2025 MEC Coach of the Year Daniel Smee and 2025 MEC Champions, Charleston concluded their season at the NCAA DII Men’s Soccer Sweet Sixteen with an overall record of 17-1-4. Additionally, the Golden Eagles finished 11-0-3 in MEC play. Charleston returns this year with the 2025 MEC Freshman of the Year, Martin Echarren alongside all-MEC selections Martin Echarren, Caio Moraes and Tomas Petrungaro.
Point Park finished behind D&E, with 36 total points and four first place votes. West Liberty also earned one first place vote, while Frostburg State and Wheeling rounded out the north division.
In the south division, Concord finished with 35 total points, earning three first place votes. Salem, Shawnee State and West Virginia Wesleyan completed the division. The Bears earned one first place vote.
The men’s soccer season begins August 27, as 10 league members face off against non-conference opponents.
|
2026 MEC Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll |
||
|
Rank |
Team (1st Place Votes) |
Points |
|
NORTH DIVISION |
||
|
1. |
Davis & Elkins (5) |
36 |
|
2. |
Point Park (4) |
33 |
|
3. |
West Liberty (1) |
26 |
|
4. |
Frostburg State |
20 |
|
5. |
Wheeling |
10 |
|
SOUTH DIVISION |
||
|
1. |
Charleston (6) |
36 |
|
2. |
Concord (3) |
35 |
|
3. |
Salem |
22 |
|
4. |
Shawnee State (1) |
18 |
|
5. |
West Virginia Wesleyan |
14 |
* Coaches not permitted to vote for own team
