PROVIDENCE, R.I. – UCF earned its first-ever preseason top billing on Tuesday, as the American Athletic Conference announced the 2018 Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll and All-Conference teams. The Knights collected 46 points and four first-place votes, edging SMU for the top spot as voted upon by the league’s head coaches.
After advancing to the 2017 American Athletic Conference Championship game with the Mustangs, UCF is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll. SMU, the defending American Athletic Conference champion, collected 41 points with three first-place votes and sits at No. 8 nationally heading into the season.
UConn placed third in the poll, earning 38 points and the final first-place vote, while USF collected 34 points and the fourth spot. Both squads join UCF as receiving votes nationally. Tulsa took fifth with 26 points and Temple sixth with 19, while Cincinnati and Memphis wrapped up the poll with 11 and nine points, respectively.
SMU junior Garrett McLaughlin was selected as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, after collecting First Team All-Conference accolades in 2017. The Oklahoma City, Okla. native is hoping to continue his scoring acumen from last season, when he topped The American with 14 goals and 31 points. McLaughlin helped lead the Mustangs to the conference title, followed by a run to the third round of the NCAA Championship.
UConn’s Jacob Hauser-Ramsey was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year heading into his senior campaign. Hauser-Ramsey earned First Team All-Conference and Third Team All-Region accolades in 2017, propelling the Huskies to a 0.96 goals against average last season and a trip to The American semifinals.
USF senior Christian Knight earned Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year honors to kick off his second season with the Bulls. Last year, Knight started 11 games for USF after transferring from the University of Tampa, posting a 1.08 goals against average with 53 saves and a 5-2-4 record in net.
UCF and UConn each placed three players on the Preseason All-Conference team, while SMU, USF and Memphis all earned multiple selections.
The 2018 men’s soccer season begins Friday, Aug, 24, with conference play slated to begin Friday, Sept. 21.
2018 American Athletic Conference
Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll
| Team |
Points (First Place Votes) |
| 1. UCF |
46 (4) |
| 2. SMU |
41 (3) |
| 3. UConn |
38 (1) |
| 4. USF |
34 |
| 5. Tulsa |
26 |
| 6. Temple |
19 |
| 7. Cincinnati |
11 |
| 8. Memphis |
9 |
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Garrett McLaughlin, SMU, Jr., F
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Jacob Hauser-Ramsey, UConn, Sr., D
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Christian Knight, USF, Sr., GK
Preseason All-Conference Team
Cal Jennings, UCF, Jr., F*
Yoni Sorokin, UCF, So., M*
Andreas Steineger, UCF, Sr., D
Austin Smythe, Cincinnati, R-Jr., F
Dylan Greenberg, UConn, R-Sr., D
Jacob Hauser-Ramsey, UConn, Sr., D*
Abdou Thiam, UConn, Sr., F*
Ben Roberts, Memphis, Jr., D
David Zalzman, Memphis, Sr., M
Adrian Billhardt, USF, So., M
Christian Knight, USF, Sr., GK
Emil Cuello, SMU, Sr., M
Garrett McLaughlin, SMU, Jr., F*
*Denotes unanimous selection