JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman men's soccer team landed four players on the 2014 preseason all-South Atlantic Conference poll after finishing second in the nation last fall.

"We lost some huge assets from last season," Carson-Newman head soccer coach Richard Moodie said. "But I think we will be even stronger than last year."

Eagle winger Sindre Welo (Trondheim, Norway) was voted first team in the midfielder position. Last season, Welo tallied 22 points with seven goals and eight assists. He was second on the team in both goals and assists, and came in third with two game winners including an overtime goal against conference rival Tusculum in regular season play.

"Of course it is an honor to get selected," Welo said. "But our main goal is not to win preseason awards; our main goal is to win something as a team."

Ross Frame (Welshpool, Powys, United Kingdom) was another first team selection. Frame won three SAC Player of the Week awards in one month and received All-Conference, All-Region and All-American honors.

"Sindre two years ago was our go-to guy for goals," Coach Moodie said. "Frame was the man last year."

Last season, Frame started all 23 matches. He finished the year with 20 goals, three of which were game winners, and 11 assists for a total of 51 points.

In the conference rankings at the end of last season, Welo's eight assists placed him fourth while his seven goals tied him for ninth. Welo was tied for seventh in the SAC in points.

Nico Noll (Esens, Niedersachsen, Germany), Rurik Pereira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Duncan Foster (Naphill, High Wycomb, United Kingdom) all earned second team preseason honors.

Noll made the team under the forward title. Last season, Noll totaled six goals and four assists for 16 points, and led the team in game winners with four.

Foster and Pereira both made the preseason poll as defenders. "It means a lot to me," Foster said. "It's nice to be respected preseason."

Foster started all 23 matches at right fullback and supplied his team with two assists. He placed three shots on target.

"These two were arguably underrated," Coach Moodie said. "I think Rurik was a class act last year."

Pereira started all 22 games in which he played. He landed three shots on goal and provided five assists from center back.

"Duncan and Rurik were not natural defenders last year," Coach Moodie said. "That just goes to show the attitude and the willingness of our players to serve the team."

These four and the rest of the Lads hit the pitch Sept. 4 at Tampa. The Eagles host King in their first home match at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 17.