USC Aiken Men’s Soccer Picked to Finish Seventh in PBC Preseason Poll

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The USC Aiken men’s soccer team was picked to finish seventh in the Peach Belt Conference preseason men’s soccer coaches poll.

The preseason poll was released by the Peach Belt Conference office on Wednesday, Aug. 25.

USC Aiken head men’s soccer coach Ike Ofoje feels as if he has a squad that can compete for the Peach Belt Conference crown in the 2010 season despite his squad being tabbed seventh in the preseason poll.

The 2010 Pacers return five starters in total, but will have to replace some key pieces off of a strong 2009 squad.

Ofoje believes his incoming class will fit in quite nicely with the 12 returning letterwinners in the program’s continued efforts to join the upper echelon of the extremely brutal Peach Belt Conference.

The Pacers will try and enter the 2010 campaign the same way they concluded the 2009 season as the Pacers closed out the regular season with three consecutive victories, including a home win over No. 13 Anderson. USC Aiken outscored their foes 11-3 during the three-match winning streak.

The strong push down the stretch helped USC Aiken conclude its 2009 campaign with a 7-11-1 mark (2-6 PBC).

Leading the way for the Pacers in the 2010 season will be preseason all-conference selection Troy Watson. The Kingston, Jamaica native led the Pacers last season with seven goals and seven assists.

Flagler College’s men’s soccer team was voted as the preseason team to beat in the Peach Belt Conference in the 2010 season. The Saints claimed seven of a possible eight first-place votes for 62 total points, finishing ahead of Lander who had 53. Clayton State tied Montevallo for third in the voting and Francis Marion was just behind in fifth. UNC Pembroke (sixth), USC Aiken (seventh), North Georgia (eighth) and Georgia Southwestern (ninth) rounded out the voting.

The USC Aiken men’s soccer team will kick off their regular season with two games during the first four days of September. The Pacers will first play host to Conference Carolinas foe Limestone at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 2. Two days later, USC Aiken will hit the road for the first time to square off against Catawba at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4.

The coaches poll is listed below. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.

1. Flagler 62

2. Lander 53

T3. Clayton State 48

T3. Montevallo 48

5. Francis Marion 37

6. UNC Pembroke 31

7. USC Aiken 19

8. North Georgia 18

9. Georgia Southwestern 8

Peach Belt Conference Team-by-Team Preview