Men’s Soccer Picked Ninth in Preseason Poll
8/12/2026 1:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
NEW ORLEANS – The Coastal Carolina men's soccer team was selected to finish ninth in the 2026 Sun Belt Conference men's soccer preseason coaches' poll, the league announced on Wednesday afternoon.
West Virginia was picked as the preseason favorite, earning 94 points and four first-place votes. Marshall was selected second with 87 points and three first-place votes, while UCF landed third with 81 points and one first-place vote.
Kentucky was picked fourth with 76 points and two first-place votes, followed by Georgia Southern in fifth with 55 points. South Carolina was selected sixth with 41 points, while Old Dominion took the seventh spot with 38 points. James Madison was picked eighth with 29 points, followed by Coastal in ninth with 25 points and Georgia State in 10th with 24 points.
The conference also announced its preseason individual award winners and Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.
2026 Sun Belt Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Pablo Pozos, West Virginia
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Takahiro Fujita, UCF
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year:
Matisse Hébert, UCF
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
F – Pablo Pozos, West Virginia
F – Carl Romberg, Marshall
F – Lewis Rourke, Old Dominion
M – Agustin Lopez, Kentucky
M – Nacho Martinez, West Virginia
M – Isaac Scheer, West Virginia
D – Takahiro Fujita, UCF
D – Jem Hewlett, UCF
D – Max Miller, Kentucky
D – Sinan Solmaz, Kentucky
GK – Matisse Hébert, UCF
2026 Sun Belt Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
For complete coverage of CCU men's soccer, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalMSoccer (X), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at GoCCUsports.com.
West Virginia was picked as the preseason favorite, earning 94 points and four first-place votes. Marshall was selected second with 87 points and three first-place votes, while UCF landed third with 81 points and one first-place vote.
Kentucky was picked fourth with 76 points and two first-place votes, followed by Georgia Southern in fifth with 55 points. South Carolina was selected sixth with 41 points, while Old Dominion took the seventh spot with 38 points. James Madison was picked eighth with 29 points, followed by Coastal in ninth with 25 points and Georgia State in 10th with 24 points.
The conference also announced its preseason individual award winners and Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.
2026 Sun Belt Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Pablo Pozos, West Virginia
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Takahiro Fujita, UCF
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year:
Matisse Hébert, UCF
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
F – Pablo Pozos, West Virginia
F – Carl Romberg, Marshall
F – Lewis Rourke, Old Dominion
M – Agustin Lopez, Kentucky
M – Nacho Martinez, West Virginia
M – Isaac Scheer, West Virginia
D – Takahiro Fujita, UCF
D – Jem Hewlett, UCF
D – Max Miller, Kentucky
D – Sinan Solmaz, Kentucky
GK – Matisse Hébert, UCF
2026 Sun Belt Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
- West Virginia (4) – 94
- Marshall (3) – 87
- UCF (1) – 81
- Kentucky (2) – 76
- Georgia Southern – 55
- South Carolina – 41
- Old Dominion – 38
- James Madison – 29
- Coastal Carolina – 25
- Georgia State – 24
For complete coverage of CCU men's soccer, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalMSoccer (X), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at GoCCUsports.com.
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