University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina Selected as ACC Men's Soccer Preseason Favorite
August 10, 2006 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 10, 2006
GREENSBORO, N.C. - With 10 returning starters and one of the nation's top recruiting classes in the fold for the upcoming season, the North Carolina Tar Heels have been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2006 Atlantic Coast Conference men's soccer title, as determined by a vote of the league's nine head coaches.
After advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament a year ago and grabbing the No. 3 spot in the 2006 College Soccer News Preseason Top 30 poll, the Tar Heels collected 73 points and four first-place votes en route to being named the conference preseason favorite. UNC returns 95 percent (39 of 41 goals) of its scoring from a year ago, led by senior forward Ben Hunter's 13 goals. The Tar Heels also return four defenders and a goalkeeper that posted a school-record 15 shutouts a year ago.
Virginia and Maryland wrap up the top three selections with UVa picked to finish second with 65 points. The Cavaliers return 10 of their 11 starters from a 2005 team that finished second in the ACC and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Virginia was No. 8 in the 2006 CSN Preseason Top 30 poll.
Maryland is the coaches' pick to finish third after accumulating 62 points and earning two first-place votes. The reigning 2005 national champion Terrapins are coming off a memorable year in which the program finished with a 19-4-2 record and claimed their first national title since 1968. Maryland, will serve as host for the 2006 ACC Championship, beginning Oct. 31 at the Maryland SoccerPlex.
Completing the preseason poll in order of projected finish is Duke (56), Clemson (47), Wake Forest (38) Virginia Tech (33), Boston College (16), and NC State (15). Below is a listing of the preseason coaches' poll with the programs' respective 2005 records.
2006 Preseason ACC Men's Soccer Poll
School Points 2005 Record 1. North Carolina (4) 73 17-4-3 (3-3-2) 2. Virginia (1) 65 12-5-3 (6-2-0) 3. Maryland (2) 62 19-4-2 (7-1-0) 4. Duke (1) 56 12-5-3 (3-3-2) 5. Clemson (1) 47 15-6-3 (2-4-2) 6. Wake Forest 38 13-8-2 (1-5-2) 7. Virginia Tech 33 10-5-5 (3-2-3) 8. Boston College 16 5-9-2 (0-6-2) 9. NC State 15 11-7-1 (4-3-1)
