Men's Soccer | 8/17/2023 3:08:00 PM

MELBOURNE, Fla. - Sunshine State Conference men's soccer coaches select Barry University as the preseason favorite in 2023. With 99 points and nine first-place votes in the poll, the Buccaneers are expected to win the program's sixth regular-season title.

Florida Tech is second in the poll with 89 points and a first-place vote. Rollins College garners the final first-place vote and 77 points to land in third. Lynn University and Nova Southeastern University round out the Top-5, tied with 67 points.

2023 SSC MEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE

The University of Tampa sits in the middle of the poll (63 points) and is followed in the voting by Palm Beach Atlantic University (48 points) and Florida Southern College (28 points). Eckerd College (27 points), Saint Leo University (25 points), and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (16 points) occupy the final three positions in the poll.

Barry won the program's fifth SSC regular-season title after finishing the season with 21 points in conference play. Florida Tech bested the Buccaneers in the tournament finale to earn the program's first SSC postseason trophy. The Buccaneers return nine starters, including First-Team All-SSC performers junior forward David Polanco and senior defender Iker Berruezo.

Florida Tech, Barry, Rollins, and Tampa earned a berth into the 2022 NCAA Division II Postseason Tournament. Rollins and Florida Tech met in the third round after besting West Florida and Lander in penalty kicks. The Tars blanked the Panthers, 2-0, and drew Barry in the national quarterfinals. The Buccaneers earned passage to the quarterfinals following wins over Christian Brothers and Wingate. Barry and Rollins tied 1-1 at the end of overtime, with the Buccaneers advancing to the national semifinals in PK's. Barry was eliminated, 1-0, by CSU Pueblo with a goal in the 90th minute of play.

Since 2010, ten men's soccer teams have reached the national quarterfinals, and nine have advanced to the national semifinals. Six teams have advanced to the national title game, with three walking away with a championship trophy. Lynn (3), Tampa (3), Florida Tech (2), and Barry (1) boast all nine of the SSC's men's soccer national championships. The most recent of which came by way of Barry in 2018.

Seven teams open up the SSC non-conference season with matches on Thursday, August 31st. The conference schedule kicks off with three games on Saturday, September 16th. Barry (No. 3), Rollins  (No. 7), and Florida Tech (No. 11) represent the SSC in the 2023 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II preseason men's poll. The ranking was announced Tuesday, August 1st.

Below are the full results of the 2023 SSC preseason coaches' poll. Coaches cannot vote for their teams (points: 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, first-place votes in parentheses).

  2023 SSC MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL

  See Also: SSC All-Americans | All-SSC Teams | SSC Champions | 2022 Standings

  Previous SSC Men's Soccer Polls