JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Aug. 16, 2026) – The ETSU men’s soccer team was picked sixth in the SoCon in the 2026 preseason poll as voted on by the conference’s coaches. The results of the poll were released by the SoCon offices in Spartanburg on Monday afternoon.
The Bucs received 13 points, two behind Wofford in fifth and six ahead of VMI, the consensus seventh-place team. Furman, the preseason No. 3 team in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 and the preseason No. 2 team in the TopDrawer Soccer Top 25, was picked to win the league with 34 points and four first-place votes. UNCG, the preseason No. 14 in the USCA Top 25 and No. 12 in the TopDrawer Top 25, was picked second with 31 points and two first-place votes. Liberty, which joins the SoCon in men’s soccer for 2026, was picked third with 24 points and one first-place vote. Mercer was fourth with 23 points.
ETSU did not have a selection on the 12-player Preseason All-SoCon team. Furman had the most representatives with six, including 2025 All-American Diego Hernandez and USA U-19 call-up Braden Dunham.
The Bucs welcome 19 new players for 2026 and open their season on the road on Thursday at Queens before visiting Clemson on Sunday. Their home opener is set for Tuesday, September 1, against USC Upstate.
For more information on ETSU men’s soccer, go to ETSUBucs.com.
