VIDEO: Stephen Lyons Interview

2023 South Atlantic Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Poll

ROCK HILL, S.C. – In the South Atlantic Conference men's soccer preseason poll, Carson-Newman has been picked to finish fifth, as announced by the league office this afternoon.

The Eagles were one point shy of tying Catawba for fourth place in the poll. C-N received one first place vote.

"Overall, I'm a bit surprised to see we are that high," Carson-Newman head coach Stephen Lyons said. "We graduated around 6-7 starters, we have almost a new team coming in, but we are excited. We don't put too much stock into the preseason stuff, it's all about what we do at the end of the season."

Last season, Carson-Newman finished with a 7-5-5 overall record, while going 5-2-4 in conference. Stephen Lyons' team dominated the month of September going 4-0-4, a stretch that saw C-N go on a nine-match unbeaten streak. The Eagles were unable to maintain the early season momentum, losing four of its final five games of the season.

C-N returns just six players that played in five or more games in 2022. Headlining the returnees is senior Nic Carsh (Newberg, Ore.) who scored a team-high four goals last season. More experienced talent returns in senior Harry Whitehead (Oxford, England). He has 42 career starts and 13 career goals.

Wingate received seven first place votes to earn the top spot in the SAC preseason poll. Defending champion Lenoir-Rhyne followed in with two first place votes, with Coker rounding out the top three.

Limestone slots in at number six with 82 points. There was a 26 point gap between the Saints and seventh place Lincoln Memorial. Mars Hill and Anderson followed in at eight and nine, respectively. Tusculum, Newberry and Emory & Henry round out the poll 10-12.

"There is no given result on any day in this league," Lyons said. "It is one of the best conferences, in my opinion, in the country. Week in and week out you are getting tough tests, but again that is what you want in order to put yourself in the best position going forward. It's a credit to the conference, top to bottom, anything can happen."

Carson-Newman opens the 2023 season with a neutral site matchup against West Alabama on Aug 31.