Liberty Picked 3rd in the 2026 SoCon Preseason Men’s Soccer Poll
8/17/2026 3:05:00 PM | Men's Soccer
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty Flames have been selected to finish third in their first season of Southern Conference men's soccer, as the SoCon's Preseason Men's Soccer Poll was released today.
The Flames received 24 points and one first-place vote to garner third place in the poll voted on by the conference's coaches. No Liberty player was eligible for the preseason all-conference team, with the Flames being in their first year of league membership.
Defending conference champion Furman was picked to finish first in the conference. The Paladins received 34 points and four first-place votes. Furman was ranked No. 3 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason National Poll.
UNCG was selected second in the poll. The Spartans garnered 31 points and three first-place votes. UNCG is also listed in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason National Poll at No. 14.
Mercer, who received 23 points in the poll, followed Liberty in the fourth position. Wofford (15 points), ETSU (13 points) and VMI (7 points) round out the poll.
The SoCon Men's Soccer Championship will run from Nov. 3 through Nov. 13 or 14 at campus sites. The tournament will get underway with the first round on Nov. 3, followed by the quarterfinals on Nov. 5. The semifinals will be held on Nov. 8 and the championship on Nov. 13 or 14. The winner will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Under first-year head coach Scott Wells, the Flames will open their 2026 season at San Diego State on Thursday, before visiting No. 18 San Diego on Sunday. Thursday's game time is scheduled for 10 p.m. EST/ 7 p.m. PST.
2026 SoCon Preseason Men's Soccer Poll
First place votes in parentheses
1. Furman, 34 (4)
2. UNC Greensboro, 31 (2)
3. Liberty, 24 (1)
4. Mercer, 23
5. Wofford, 15
6. ETSU, 13
7. VMI, 7
The Flames received 24 points and one first-place vote to garner third place in the poll voted on by the conference's coaches. No Liberty player was eligible for the preseason all-conference team, with the Flames being in their first year of league membership.
Defending conference champion Furman was picked to finish first in the conference. The Paladins received 34 points and four first-place votes. Furman was ranked No. 3 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason National Poll.
UNCG was selected second in the poll. The Spartans garnered 31 points and three first-place votes. UNCG is also listed in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason National Poll at No. 14.
Mercer, who received 23 points in the poll, followed Liberty in the fourth position. Wofford (15 points), ETSU (13 points) and VMI (7 points) round out the poll.
The SoCon Men's Soccer Championship will run from Nov. 3 through Nov. 13 or 14 at campus sites. The tournament will get underway with the first round on Nov. 3, followed by the quarterfinals on Nov. 5. The semifinals will be held on Nov. 8 and the championship on Nov. 13 or 14. The winner will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Under first-year head coach Scott Wells, the Flames will open their 2026 season at San Diego State on Thursday, before visiting No. 18 San Diego on Sunday. Thursday's game time is scheduled for 10 p.m. EST/ 7 p.m. PST.
2026 SoCon Preseason Men's Soccer Poll
First place votes in parentheses
1. Furman, 34 (4)
2. UNC Greensboro, 31 (2)
3. Liberty, 24 (1)
4. Mercer, 23
5. Wofford, 15
6. ETSU, 13
7. VMI, 7
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