Liberty Picked 2nd in OVC Men’s Soccer Poll
8/15/2024 11:56:00 AM | Men's Soccer
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty Flames have been selected to finish second in the 2024 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Men's Soccer Poll.
The Flames garnered three first-place votes and 79 total points to come in second in the poll behind the defending OVC Champion SIUE. The Cougars were picked to defend their 2023 OVC title by receiving 11 first-place votes and 95 total points.
Incarnate Word (UIW) followed SIUE and Liberty with 67 points to place third, while Lindenwood collected 66 points to finish fourth in the poll. Houston Christian (HCU) was picked fifth, garnering the final two first-place votes and 59 points, followed by Eastern Illinois (36 points), conference newcomer Western Illinois (25 points) and Southern Indiana (21 points).
The top six teams in the conference standings will qualify for the 2024 OVC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament, which will take place Nov. 10, 13 & 16 in Edwardsville, Illinois on the campus of SIUE. The top two teams in the conference standings will receive a first-round bye.
In addition to the preseason poll, Liberty midfielder Luke Eberle was named one of the OVC Players to Watch. The Flames' leading scorer in 2023, Eberle scored a career-high seven goals and posted 18 points. The midfielder finished fourth in the OVC in goals and third in points. He was named to the 2023 OVC All-Conference second team.
2024 OVC Predicted Order of Finish
2024 OVC Players to Watch
Sam Eccles (F, Grad., Sheffield, England) - Eastern Illinois
D'Alessandro Herrera (MF, Jr., Houston, Texas) - HCU
Luke Eberle (MF, Sr., Arnold, Md.) - Liberty
John Gates (F, Sr., St. Louis, Mo.) - Lindenwood
Nacho Abeal (F/MF, Sr., A Coruña, Spain) - SIUE
Jaron Frye (F, Jr., Tulsa, Okla.) - Southern Indiana
Miles Merritt (MF, So., Albuquerque, N.M.) - UIW
Jimmy Baars (MF, Sr., Kudelstaart, Netherlands ) - Western Illinois
The Flames garnered three first-place votes and 79 total points to come in second in the poll behind the defending OVC Champion SIUE. The Cougars were picked to defend their 2023 OVC title by receiving 11 first-place votes and 95 total points.
Incarnate Word (UIW) followed SIUE and Liberty with 67 points to place third, while Lindenwood collected 66 points to finish fourth in the poll. Houston Christian (HCU) was picked fifth, garnering the final two first-place votes and 59 points, followed by Eastern Illinois (36 points), conference newcomer Western Illinois (25 points) and Southern Indiana (21 points).
The top six teams in the conference standings will qualify for the 2024 OVC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament, which will take place Nov. 10, 13 & 16 in Edwardsville, Illinois on the campus of SIUE. The top two teams in the conference standings will receive a first-round bye.
In addition to the preseason poll, Liberty midfielder Luke Eberle was named one of the OVC Players to Watch. The Flames' leading scorer in 2023, Eberle scored a career-high seven goals and posted 18 points. The midfielder finished fourth in the OVC in goals and third in points. He was named to the 2023 OVC All-Conference second team.
2024 OVC Predicted Order of Finish
| Points | |
| 1. SUIE (11) | 95 |
| 2. Liberty (3) | 79 |
| 3. UIW | 67 |
| 4. Lindenwood | 66 |
| 5. HCU (2) | 59 |
| 6. Eastern Illinois | 36 |
| 7. Western Illinois | 25 |
| 8. Southern Indiana | 21 |
2024 OVC Players to Watch
Sam Eccles (F, Grad., Sheffield, England) - Eastern Illinois
D'Alessandro Herrera (MF, Jr., Houston, Texas) - HCU
Luke Eberle (MF, Sr., Arnold, Md.) - Liberty
John Gates (F, Sr., St. Louis, Mo.) - Lindenwood
Nacho Abeal (F/MF, Sr., A Coruña, Spain) - SIUE
Jaron Frye (F, Jr., Tulsa, Okla.) - Southern Indiana
Miles Merritt (MF, So., Albuquerque, N.M.) - UIW
Jimmy Baars (MF, Sr., Kudelstaart, Netherlands ) - Western Illinois
Players Mentioned
MF
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