BRIDGEPORT — The University of Charleston men’s soccer program is the Mountain East Conference preseason favorite.

The Golden Eagles totaled 49 points and seven first-place votes following a vote of the league’s eight head coaches. Davis & Elkins received one first-place vote. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams. 

UC is coming off a season in which it finished 22-2-1 overall and 13-1-0 in MEC play. The Golden Eagles swept the MEC’s regular season and tournament championships, and then advanced to the NCAA Division II national championship game. Charleston fell in the final, 3-2, to Lynn University. 

Inthe wake of the Golden Eagles’ 2024 regular season, the team swept the MEC’s top honors for Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Coach of the Year. Daniel Smee, who has won the MEC Coach of the Year honor four times, was named the MEC’s Male Sports Coach of the Year in June. Overall, the University of Charleston has won seven consecutive MEC tournament championships and three consecutive regular season crowns. 

Davis & Elkins, which finished last season 10-6-3 overall and 7-5-2 in MEC play, was voted second in the preseason poll with 43 total points. Concord, which made an NCAA tournament appearance a year ago, was picked to finish third. West Liberty, West Virginia Wesleyan, Point Park, Wheeling, and Frostburg State rounded out the eight-team poll. 

The men’s soccer season begins Thursday, Sept. 4, with five teams in action in non-conference play. MEC play is set to begin Sunday, Sept. 7. 

* Coaches not permitted to vote for own team