ROCK HILL, S.C. (theSAC.com) – Coming off a SAC Regular Season Championship in 2025, Anderson has been voted the preseason favorite in the 2026 SAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The poll, as voted on by the league’s head coaches, was released on Monday morning by the league office and features five teams receiving first-place votes.
Anderson earned six first-place votes and 88 total points after going 7-1-2 in conference play and 11-2-6 overall a season ago. The Trojans return three Preseason All-Conference selections in forwards Adrian Castillo and Julian Caro and midfielder Juan Pablo Lepervanche as they look to defend their regular-season title in 2026.
Emory & Henry comes in a close second in the coaches’ poll, earning two first-place votes and 86 points. The Wasps finished second in the SAC standings last season with a 6-1-3 conference record and went 8-4-5 overall, their best finish in program history. Midfielder Titouan Itier and defenders Marcos Baez Juarez and Marcelo Lopes were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
Lincoln Memorial earned one first-place vote and 78 points to rank third in the preseason poll. The Railsplitters tied for third in the SAC standings a season ago with a 6-2-2 league record and finished 9-7-3 overall. Goalkeeper Daniel Benedek Miklosi represents LMU on the Preseason All-Conference Team.
Lenoir-Rhyne comes in fourth with 72 points after also going 6-2-2 in SAC play last season. The Bears finished 8-5-4 overall and placed two players on the Preseason All-Conference Team, with midfielder Raul Canas and defender Maxime Wester earning preseason honors.
Wingate and Catawba tied for fifth in the preseason poll with 57 points apiece, with Wingate receiving one first-place vote. The Bulldogs went 3-4-3 in conference play last season, while Catawba finished 1-6-3. Wingate defender Bailey Rhodes was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
Coker earned 55 points to come in seventh after finishing 3-4-3 in league play last season. The Cobras are led by Preseason All-Conference forwards Christian Johnson and Alexis Abalam.
Mars Hill follows in eighth with 37 points, while Carson-Newman is ninth with 34 points. Eagles midfielder Mitchell Honcoop earned a spot on the Preseason All-Conference Team.
Tusculum received the final first-place vote and 23 total points to rank 10th, while Newberry rounds out the preseason poll in 11th with 18 points.
In addition to the Coaches’ Poll and Preseason All-Conference Team, the league announced its Players to Watch list, highlighting potential standouts from each institution.
2026 SAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll
| Rank |
School (First Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Anderson (6) |
88 |
| 2. |
Emory & Henry (2) |
86 |
| 3. |
Lincoln Memorial (1) |
78 |
| 4. |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
72 |
| 5t. |
Wingate (1) |
57 |
| 5t. |
Catawba |
57 |
| 7. |
Coker |
55 |
| 8. |
Mars Hill |
37 |
| 9. |
Carson-Newman |
34 |
| 10. |
Tusculum (1) |
23 |
| 11. |
Newberry |
18 |
Preseason All-Conference
F – Christian Johnson, Coker
F – Adrian Castillo, Anderson
F – Julian Caro, Anderson
F – Alexis Abalam, Coker
MF – Juan Pablo Lepervanche, Anderson
MF – Titouan Itier, Emory & Henry
MF – Mitchell Honcoop, Carson-Newman
MF – Raul Canas, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Marcos Baez Juarez, Emory & Henry
D – Bailey Rhodes, Wingate
D – Maxime Wester, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Marcelo Lopes, Emory & Henry
GK – Daniel Benedek Miklosi, Lincoln Memorial
Players to Watch
Anderson
Jonas Zethofer
Charles Bolduc
Carson-Newman
Antoine Torrent
Omotayo Omolokun
Catawba
Alex Payton
Juan Camilo
Luis Rodrigues
Coker
Mouhamadou Savane
Emory & Henry
Jean-Charles Eyidi
Lenoir-Rhyne
Hector Taboada
Xairo Villalon
Lincoln Memorial
Enrique Martin
Vicente Charlin
Mars Hill
Charlie Drury
Kai Stolp
Adrian Faus
Newberry
Seraphin Guetan
Benu Yasin-Cetin
George Rathmill
Tusculum
Luka Slankamenac
Juan Diego Corral
Patrick Enchill
Wingate
Camilo Salazar
Hipo Delhaes