ROCK HILL, S.C. – Carson-Newman, which won the South Atlantic Conference men's soccer championship the last two seasons, is the choice to repeat and capture the 2010 SAC title in a vote of the league's head coaches, the conference office announced Wednesday.

The Eagles, who went 14-5-1 a year ago and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for a seventh straight season, received five first-place votes and 94 total points.

Wingate is picked to finish second with 89 points. The Bulldogs also received three first-place votes.

Lincoln Memorial is third in the preseason poll with 76 points and received the other two first-place votes.

First-year conference member Anderson is picked to finish fourth. The Trojans received 68 total points. Last season, the Trojans finished seventh in the nation in scoring and defeated Carson-Newman in the NCAA Tournament.

Defending Food Lion SAC Tournament champion Tusculum is the pick to finish fifth with 58 points.

Lenoir-Rhyne is sixth in the poll with 54 points.

Mars Hill picked up 43 points to finish seventh in the poll.

Newberry is eighth with 31 points, while Catawba received 25 points for ninth place and Brevard rounds out the poll with 12 points.

C-N opens the 2010 season on Sept. 2 at home against St. Leo.

The league's top eight teams will advance to the 2010 Food Lion SAC Tournament. Quarterfinal play will be Wednesday, Nov. 3 on campus sites, with winners advancing to the semifinals at the Manchester Meadows soccer stadium in Rock Hill, S.C. on Friday, Nov. 5, with the finals on Sunday, Nov. 7.

2010 SAC MEN'S SOCCER COACHES POLL
Pl School Pts.
1. Carson-Newman (5) 94
2. Wingate (3) 89
3. Lincoln Memorial (2) 76
4. Anderson 68
5. Tusculum 58
6. Lenoir-Rhyne 54
7. Mars Hill 43
8. Newberry 31
9. Catawba 25
10. Brevard 12
(First place votes in parenthesis)