UConn was selected unanimously as the preseason favorite for the American Athletic Conference men’s soccer inaugural season.  The Huskies have made 33 appearances in the NCAA Championship, including 15 consecutive trips under head coach Ray Reid, and are coming off a 17-4-1 finish last year. The votes were cast by the league’s nine head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own teams.
 
USF senior defender Ben Sweat was chosen unanimously as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-Conference team. He has been named to College Soccer News’ Preseason All-American Third Team and was named on the list of the nation’s top 10 defenders by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
 
For the second-straight year, UConn junior goalkeeper Andre Blake was a unanimous selection for the Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. Blake won BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year accolades after last season for the second-straight year. In his sophomore season, Blake ranked fifth in the nation in goals-against average (.53) and ninth in save percentage (.850). In league play, Blake posted 30 saves, an 0.88 goals-against average and an .811 save percentage.
 
Connecticut senior forward Mamadou Doudou Diouf was selected as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year for the second-straight year, also earning a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-Conference team.
 
UConn begins the 2013 season at No. 5 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and Continental Preseason Rankings. The Huskies were ranked in the top 10 for all of 2012 and ended the year ranked No. 6 in the final poll. The Huskies advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals in 2012, falling to Creighton 1-0.
 
Louisville advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Championship in 2012, marking the third straight season the Cardinals finished among the nation's final eight squads. Louisville, which finished 2012 ranked No. 7 overall, closed the conference season as the BIG EAST Red Division champions after finishing with a 7-1-0 record in league play. Senior forward Zack Foxhoven had five goals last year, while sophomore midfielder Marlon Hairston had nine points on three goals and three assists. Senior defender Daniel Keller started all 21 games.
 
USF was picked to finish third in the league after making its sixth consecutive trip to the NCAA Championship last season. The Bulls reached the second round of the tournament last year, getting edged by Tulsa 1-0. USF was 8-6-5 overall last year and will be led defensively by Sweat.
 
SMU was picked fourth after the Mustangs finished last season 10-5-5 and reached the NCAA Championship. SMU tied Winthrop 1-1, but was eliminated from the NCAA Championship 3-1 on penalty kicks. Redshirt-junior Damian Rosales, a midfielder, was picked to the Preseason All-Conference team and will lead the Mustangs after playing in 18 games last year and dishing out three assists.
 
Rutgers returns 13 letterwinners and eight starters from last year’s squad, which ranked No. 35 in the final RPI.  Among the returning Scarlet Knights are Second Team All-BIG EAST honoree and leading scorer Kene Eze and Second Team All-BIG EAST and All-Rookie selection Mael Corboz Both players were named to the Preseason All-Conference team. The incoming freshman class has garnered preseason recognition being named among the top 35 recruiting classes in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.com. Eze led the team with 17 points (8g, 1a) and Corboz was second with 13 points (3p, 7a). The Scarlet Knights finished last season 7-7-1.
 
Memphis was picked to finish sixth in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Tigers finished last season 8-7-3 overall and 4-2-2 in conference play. Redshirt-senior Mark Sherrod was chosen unanimously to the Preseason All-Conference team. Sherrod recorded 12 goals and four assists for 28 points last year, earning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year, NSCAA All-Midwest first team honors and All-C-USA first team honors. Sherrod's C-USA Offensive Player of the Year nod was his second in a row, making him the only player in the league's history to win the award in back to back seasons.
 
UCF, picked by the coaches to finish seventh in the league, is coming off of an 8-7-3 campaign in 2012. Senior Omar Vallejo will lead UCF after dishing out a team-high eight assists last year. He was tied for first in Conference USA with 0.44 assists per game and earned All-Conference honors.
 
Cincinnati head coach Hylton Dayes, in his 13^th season, is looking to improve on a 6-9-4 overall record last year. The Bearcats will be led by sophomore Richardo Israel, who was selected to the Preseason All-Conference team after anchoring the Cincinnati defense last year. Israel wrapped up his freshman campaign with BIG EAST All-Rookie Team honors.
 
Temple, led by 14-year head coach David MacWilliams, is coming off a 10-6-3 season in 2012. The Owls made their third-straight trip to the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. In addition to having 19 players returning from last year’s squad, the 11 newcomers were ranked No. 20 as a recruiting class by College Soccer News. The Owls will be led by Preseason All-Conference selection Jared Martinelli. The sophomore midfielder led the team last year with 28 points on nine goals and 10 assists.
 
 
2013 American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1.     UConn (8)                     64
2.     Louisville (1)                  55
3.     USF                              49
4.     SMU                             42
5.     Rutgers                         33
6.     Memphis                       28
7.     UCF                              26
8.     Cincinnati                      18
9.     Temple                         9
                                                        
2013 American Athletic Conference Preseason Award Winners
 
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
*Andre Blake, UConn, GK, Jr.
 
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
*Ben Sweat, USF, B, Sr.
 
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Mamadou Doudou Diouf, UConn, F, Sr.
 
Preseason All-Conference Team
Richardo Israel, Cincinnati, B, So.
*Andre Blake, UConn, GK, Jr.
*Mamadou Doudou Diouf, UConn, F, Sr.
Zack Foxhoven, Louisville, F, Sr.
Marlon Hairston, Louisville, MF, So.
Daniel Keller, Louisville, B, R-Jr.
Liam Collins, Memphis, MF, Sr.
*Mark Sherrod, Memphis, F, R-Sr.
Kene Eze, Rutgers, F, Sr.
Mael Corboz, Rutgers, MF, So.
*Ben Sweat, USF, B, Sr.
*Damian Rosales, SMU, B, R-Jr.
Jared Martinelli, Temple, MF, So.
 
*unanimous selection