ROCK HILL, SC- Carson-Newman has been picked to win the South Atlantic Conference for the 2022 men's soccer season, as the league released the preseason poll on Tuesday. The Eagles received the most first places votes (7).
This ranking marks the first time under the leadership of Stephen Lyons the Eagles have been voted as the favorite.
This first-place ranking comes after the Eagles won the 2021 SAC Men's Soccer Regular Season title and finished the season with an overall record of 11-4-1 and a 9-2 record in conference action.
The Eagles best stretch of the 2021 season ranged from Sep. 8 to Oct. 6, as the Eagles won seven straight matches. During the seven-game win streak, C-N outscored its opponents 17-5. The Eagles recorded five clean sheets, with four of those coming in the month of Ocotber.
While the Eagles will have to replace top goal scorer Thaylan Silva and starter goalkeeper Bram Kaarsgaren, C-N returns nine of thirteen players that played in 10 or more games last season. Headlining the returnees is senior forward Harry Whitehead.The Englishman is coming off his best season with the Eagles scoring six goals and adding three assists. C-N also brings back its top two assist men from a season ago in Yannick Kranz (6) and Tim Vercelli (5). Both players also booted two goals into the back of the net for the Eagles.
Lenoir-Rhyne received four first place votes, earning the No. 2 spot. Limestone, Coker and Anderson round up the top 5.
Mars Hill follows in with a sixth place ranking. Wingate is 7th, while also receiving the final first place vote. Catawba, Newberry and Lincoln Memorial round out the top 10. Tusculum and Emory & Henry finish out the preseason poll.
Carson-Newman opens up the season on Aug. 25 at home when it takes on West Alabama.
