United Soccer Coaches Division I Preseason Poll

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – United Soccer Coaches released the association's NCAA Division I men's soccer preseason rankings on Tuesday afternoon, with Loyola University Maryland receiving votes in the national poll.

The Greyhounds were ranked as high as No. 23 nationally last season after finishing 12-4-1 overall (7-1-1 vs. Patriot League opponents). They are 23-10-2 in the previous two seasons combined under head coach Steve Nichols and have claimed back-to-back Patriot League regular season championships.

Loyola will have plenty of opportunities to test itself against the nation's best in 2019, as the Greyhounds face three teams ranked in the preseason Top 25. Loyola takes on No. 16 Virginia Tech on Sept. 6, No. 17 James Madison on Sept. 8 and No. 4 Wake Forest on Oct. 22. Also on the schedule are games against NC State, Princeton and Colgate, who are all receiving votes nationally.

Seniors Brian Saramago and Barry Sharifi, both third team United Soccer Coaches All-Americans in 2018, were selected to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List last week. Junior goalkeeper Chase Vosvick, a first team All-Atlantic Region honoree a year ago, also returns along with five other 2018 All-Patriot League selections in senior Nico Brown, senior Josh Fawole, senior Davey Mason, senior Jonathan Sousa and junior Sam Brown.

Maryland topped the national preseason rankings with 637 points and 13 first-place votes. Indiana, Akron, Wake Forest and Stanford round out the top five.

Loyola begins the 2019 season with a 7 p.m. road contest at NC State on Friday, Aug. 30. The Patriot League will reveal its preseason men's soccer awards and team rankings at 11 a.m. on Thursday morning.