Photo by: Jeff Reinking | Louisville Athletics
Cardinals Picked Fifth in ACC North Region, Fonseca Player to Watch
September 08, 2020 | Men's Soccer
Louisville was voted fifth out of six teams in the newly created region for the 2020 fall season.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville men's soccer team was picked to finish fifth in the North Region of the Atlantic Coast Conference, as voted on by the league's head coaches.
The Cardinals were voted fifth out of six teams in the newly created region for the 2020 fall season.
Virginia received nine of 11 first-place votes and is the favorite in the North Region followed by Pitt, who picked up the remaining two votes for the top spot. Virginia Tech and Syracuse sit third and fourth, respectively, while Notre Dame follows up the Cardinals in sixth.
Clemson was named the favorite in the South Region, narrowly edging out Wake Forest with both teams receiving five first-place tallies. North Carolina, NC State and Duke round out the five-team region.
Louisville was 10-8-2 overall in 2019 and posted a 3-4-1 record in conference play. The Cardinals reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament and were ranked No. 20 in the final United Soccer Coaches poll.
Junior Pedro Fonseca was named to the 2020 ACC Preseason Watch List, released on Tuesday as well.
The Brazilian forward battled injuries in 2019, but made his mark in the postseason for UofL. Fonseca tallied NCAA Tournament goals against South Florida and eventual-national champion Georgetown, in addition to assisting on the game-winning goal at UC Davis.
Fonseca and the Cardinals are scheduled to take the field for the first time this fall on Saturday in a neutral site exhibition against Notre Dame in Westfield, Ind.
Louisville will open up its eight-game regular season schedule on Sept. 25 against Wake Forest at Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE MEN'S SOCCER ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville men's soccer on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @UofLMensSoccer.
2020 ACC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
North Region
1. Virginia (9), 59
2. Pitt (2), 44
3. Virginia Tech, 35
4. Syracuse, 30
5. Louisville, 29
6. Notre Dame, 28
South Region
1. Clemson (5), 45
2. Wake Forest (5), 44
3. North Carolina (1), 33
4. NC State, 21
5. Duke, 17
Overall Champion
Clemson, 5 votes
Wake Forest, 4
North Carolina, 1
Virginia, 1
First-place votes in parentheses
2020 ACC Preseason Watch List
Kimarni Smith, Senior, Forward, Clemson
Jack Doran, Graduate, Midfielder, Duke
Pedro Fonseca, Junior, Forward, Louisville
Alec Smir, Junior, Goalkeeper, North Carolina
George Asomani, Senior, Midfielder, NC State
Jack Lynn, Junior, Forward, Notre Dame
Edward Kizza, Senior, Forward, Pitt
Sondre Norheim, Senior, Defender, Syracuse
Nathaniel Crofts, Senior, Forward, Virginia
Kristo Strickler, Senior, Forward, Virginia Tech
Michael DeShields, Senior, Defender, Wake Forest
The Cardinals were voted fifth out of six teams in the newly created region for the 2020 fall season.
Virginia received nine of 11 first-place votes and is the favorite in the North Region followed by Pitt, who picked up the remaining two votes for the top spot. Virginia Tech and Syracuse sit third and fourth, respectively, while Notre Dame follows up the Cardinals in sixth.
Clemson was named the favorite in the South Region, narrowly edging out Wake Forest with both teams receiving five first-place tallies. North Carolina, NC State and Duke round out the five-team region.
Louisville was 10-8-2 overall in 2019 and posted a 3-4-1 record in conference play. The Cardinals reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament and were ranked No. 20 in the final United Soccer Coaches poll.
Junior Pedro Fonseca was named to the 2020 ACC Preseason Watch List, released on Tuesday as well.
The Brazilian forward battled injuries in 2019, but made his mark in the postseason for UofL. Fonseca tallied NCAA Tournament goals against South Florida and eventual-national champion Georgetown, in addition to assisting on the game-winning goal at UC Davis.
Fonseca and the Cardinals are scheduled to take the field for the first time this fall on Saturday in a neutral site exhibition against Notre Dame in Westfield, Ind.
Louisville will open up its eight-game regular season schedule on Sept. 25 against Wake Forest at Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE MEN'S SOCCER ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville men's soccer on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @UofLMensSoccer.
2020 ACC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
North Region
1. Virginia (9), 59
2. Pitt (2), 44
3. Virginia Tech, 35
4. Syracuse, 30
5. Louisville, 29
6. Notre Dame, 28
South Region
1. Clemson (5), 45
2. Wake Forest (5), 44
3. North Carolina (1), 33
4. NC State, 21
5. Duke, 17
Overall Champion
Clemson, 5 votes
Wake Forest, 4
North Carolina, 1
Virginia, 1
First-place votes in parentheses
2020 ACC Preseason Watch List
Kimarni Smith, Senior, Forward, Clemson
Jack Doran, Graduate, Midfielder, Duke
Pedro Fonseca, Junior, Forward, Louisville
Alec Smir, Junior, Goalkeeper, North Carolina
George Asomani, Senior, Midfielder, NC State
Jack Lynn, Junior, Forward, Notre Dame
Edward Kizza, Senior, Forward, Pitt
Sondre Norheim, Senior, Defender, Syracuse
Nathaniel Crofts, Senior, Forward, Virginia
Kristo Strickler, Senior, Forward, Virginia Tech
Michael DeShields, Senior, Defender, Wake Forest
Players Mentioned
F
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