Virginia Men's Soccer Picked to Finish 3rd in ACC Coastal in Preseason Coaches Poll

The Virginia men's soccer team was picked to finish third in the Coastal Division by a vote of the ACC's coaches on Wednesday. The Cavaliers received three first-place votes and 50 total points, trailing Duke (3, 51) and Pittsburgh (5, 56) in the Coastal Division. UVA also received one vote as the overall champion of the ACC. Clemson was named the preseason favorite to win the ACC Championship, receiving six votes.

2023 ACC Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll

Overall Champion
Clemson, 6 votes
Wake Forest, 2
Duke, 1
Virginia, 1
Syracuse, 1

Atlantic Division
Clemson (5), 58
Wake Forest (3), 56
Syracuse (4), 53
Louisville, 34
Boston College, 23
NC State, 22

Coastal Division
Pitt (5), 56
Duke (3), 51
Virginia (3), 50
North Carolina (1), 39
Notre Dame, 28
Virginia Tech, 22

UVA senior captain Leo Afonso was nominated for the ACC Men's Soccer Preseason Watch List and was also listed on the United Soccer Coaches Players to Watch List. In 2022, Afonso led the team in scoring, tallying 18 points and eight goals and tied for the team lead with four assists. Four of his goals were game-winners and Virginia turned in a 6-0-1 record in games in which Afonso found the back of the net. At the end of the season, Afonso garnered a much-deserved All-ACC First Team selection.

2023 ACC Preseason Watch List
Augustine Boadi, So., M, Boston College
Ousmane Sylla, Sr., M, Clemson
Nick Pariano, Sr., M, Duke
Sander Roed, Jr., M, Louisville
Sam Williams, So., M, North Carolina
Will Buete, Jr., M, NC State
Paddy Burns, Sr., D, Notre Dame
Filip Mirkovic, Sr., M, Pitt
Giona Leibold, Jr., M, Syracuse
Leo Afonso, Sr., F, Virginia
Connor Jordan-Hyde, R-Sr., GK, Virginia Tech
Hosei Kijima, Sr., M, Wake Forest

The 2023 Virginia men's soccer season begins on Thursday, August 24th at 7pm when the Cavaliers host Iona at Klockner Stadium.

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