Louisville Men’s Soccer Tabbed Fifth in ACC Atlantic Division
August 17, 2016 | Men's Soccer
Clemson selected as Atlantic Division favorite; North Carolina chosen to win Coastal Division and conference title
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville men's soccer team was picked to finish fifth in the ACC Atlantic Division according to a vote of the conference's 12 head coaches released Wednesday morning.
The Cardinals tallied 28 points overall, while 2015 NCAA College Cup runner-up Clemson was selected as the favorite in the Atlantic Division. North Carolina was chosen as the favorite in the Coastal Division and was tabbed to win the league championship. The Tar Heels were named by five coaches as this year's team to beat in the ACC, while Clemson received three votes. Notre Dame was next with two votes, while Virginia and Wake Forest received one vote each.
Clemson totaled 64 points and six first place votes as the Atlantic Division favorite. Wake Forest also received six first place votes for the division and was picked second with 62 points. Syracuse, which made its first trip to the College Cup last year, was picked third with 50 points, followed by Boston College (34), Louisville (28) and NC State (14).
North Carolina had 66 points and received eight first place votes as the favorite to win the Coastal Division. Notre Dame was picked second and received the remaining four first place votes. Virginia was picked third with 50 points, followed by Duke (33), Pitt (21) and Virginia Tech (20).
The ACC placed seven teams in the NCAA Championship field in 2015, the most in the nation, and finished the season as the top-rated conference in the NCAA RPI. Two league teams – Clemson and Syracuse – advanced to the College Cup, marking the 15th consecutive year that at least one ACC team has reached the national semifinals.
Louisville returns eight players with 13 or more starts from last year's team, including the top three goal scorers in sophomore Tate Schmitt (seven goals), senior Daniel Johnson (five goals) and junior Tim Kubel (five goals). Schmitt was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team, while Kubel (First Team) and Johnson (Second Team) were tabbed All-ACC selections last season. The Cardinals were 7-9-3 overall last season and finished tied for fifth in the ACC Atlantic with a 1-4-3 conference mark.
Up next, the Cardinals will conclude their exhibition slate at UAB on Saturday at 6 p.m., ET before opening the 2016 regular season schedule at home against Butler on Friday, Aug. 26 at 7:30 p.m., at Dr. Mark and Cindy Lynn Stadium.
2016 ACC MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL (First place votes)
Overall Champion
North Carolina (5)
Clemson (3)
Notre Dame (2)
Virginia (1)
Wake Forest (1)
Atlantic Division
1. Clemson (6) - 64
2. Wake Forest (6) - 62
3. Syracuse - 50
4. Boston College - 34
5. Louisville - 28
6. NC State - 14
Coastal Division
1. North Carolina (8) - 66
2. Notre Dame (4) - 62
3. Virginia - 50
4. Duke - 33
5. Pitt - 21
6. Virginia Tech - 20
2016 LOUISVILLE SOCCER SEASON TICKET AND FAN EXPERIENCE INFORMATION
Season tickets and Fan Experience packages for Louisville's third season at Dr. Mark and Cindy Lynn Stadium are now available. To purchase your tickets for the 2016 soccer season, please call the Louisville Cardinals Ticket Office at (502) GoCARDS or visit gocards.com/soccer-fep for more information. Ticket prices for the 2016 season will remain the same as the inaugural season and start as low as $2 per person per game. Season tickets for 2016 include every regular season home match for both the men's and women's soccer programs.
FOLLOWING LOUISVILLE MEN'S SOCCER ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville men's soccer on Twitter (@UofLmenssoccer) at http://twitter.com/uoflmenssoccer and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/UofLmenssoccer.
