2015 A-Sun Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll/Awards
Spartanburg, S.C. – With the start of the regular season 11 days away, the USC Upstate men's soccer team is picked to finish sixth in the A-Sun in the preseason coaches poll released Monday.
Upstate, which did not have a preseason all-conference selection despite returning seven starters from last year's team that advanced to the A-Sun Tournament, earned nine votes in the poll. Florida Gulf Coast was picked to win the conference, tallying three first-place votes and 32 points. The Eagles shared the regular season championship with Lipscomb last year and went on to win the A-Sun Tournament title.
North Florida was picked to finish second in the A-Sun. The Ospreys tallied two first-place votes and 29 points. They were followed in the poll by Lipscomb (23), Jacksonville (1 first-place vote, 17), Stetson (16) and Upstate (9).
In addition to the preseason coaches poll, the A-Sun announced its preseason award winners based on voting by the league's coaches. North Florida swept the individual honors with Helge Pietschmann being named the Player of the Year, Jay Bolt taking home the Defensive Player of the Year and Kyle Nasta earning the Goalkeeper of the Year.
Upstate will look to battle its way into the A-Sun Tournament for the second consecutive season in 2015. Only five teams will advance to play in the tournament. The Spartans play three exhibition games in the next eight days prior to opening the regular season at home against UNC Asheville on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. in County University Soccer Stadium. Upstate will open A-Sun play when it plays host to Lipscomb on Sept. 30.
2015 A-Sun Preseason Men's Soccer Coaches Poll
- Florida Gulf Coast (3) – 32 points
- North Florida (2) – 29 points
- Lipscomb – 23 points
- Jacksonville (1) – 17 points
- Stetson – 16 points
- Upstate – 9 points
