SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference men’s soccer coaches announced on Monday the preseason favorites to win the league crown in 2010. Wofford was picked to finish fourth in the SoCon in the 2010 Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
The coaches also named an 11-player preseason all-conference team. Three Terriers were honored with preseason All-SoCon selections including: forwards Kentrel Owens and Wilson Hood along with midfielder Andrew Eppelsheimer. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team or players in the balloting.
Owens started in all 18 matches of the 2009 season and finished the year with six goals and two assists. He finished second on the team in goals and points. Owens was named First Team All-Southern Conference last year and was also named to the SoCon All-Tournament Team. As a junior he led the conference in shot on goal percentage at 76.7% and earned NSCAA All-South second team honors.
Hood started in 14 of the 18 matches played in last year’s season. He led the team in scoring with seven goals and also led the team in points with 16. Hood was able to have 25 shot attempts throughout the season and ranked third in the SoCon in goals and sixth in points on the season. He was named MVP of the 2009 Southern Conference Tournament, as he scored three goals and added an assist in the two matches. The forward earned All-SoCon Tournament honors and named to the College Soccer News Team of the Week.
Eppelsheimer started in all 18 matches last season as a midfielder. He scored one goal and had 28 shots during the season, having multiple shots in seven games. The midfielder was named to the All-SoCon Second Team and was also honored on the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.
The 2010 regular season begins on Wednesday, September 1 with half of the league’s eight teams in action. The 2010 SoCon Men’s Soccer Championship will feature the all eight teams with the final four facing off in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. on Nov. 12 and 14.
2010 Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. College of Charleston (5) 47
2. Elon (1) 40
3. Furman (1) 34
4. Wofford 30
5. Davidson (1) 25
6. UNCG 21
7. Appalachian State 19
8. Georgia Southern 8
() denotes first-place votes
2010 Men’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team
F Chris Thomas, Elon
F Kentrel Owens, Wofford
F Wilson Hood, Wofford
F Kareem Yearwood, College of Charleston
MF Alex Caskey, Davidson
MF Brad Franks, Elon
MF Andrew Eppelsheimer, Wofford
D Sean Flatley, College of Charleston
D Will Mack, UNCG
D Greg Macnamara, Davidson
GK Clint Irwin, Elon
