ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The South Atlantic Conference announced the 2025 Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll on Tuesday morning, selecting the Trojans for a 6th-place finish among the league's 11 teams.
A highly competitive season awaits the Trojans, as the poll's 1st-place votes were split among four different teams—Lenoir-Rhyne, Wingate, Coker and Mars Hill.
Despite not receiving the most 1st-place votes, the Bears accumulated 84 points to claim the top spot, followed by the Bulldogs and Cobras in 2nd and 3rd with 82 and 80 points respectively. Also preceding the Trojans are Mars Hill with 71 points and Lincoln Memorial with 62 points. Anderson's 57 points sit 6th on the list, only four points ahead of Emory & Henry at 53.
Last season, the Trojans were given the No. 7 spot in the preseason poll, before going 7-4 in conference play to finish 3rd in the SAC. The 2024 AU squad went 3-2 against the five teams ahead of them in this year's poll.
Along with the rankings, the league also announced the 2025 Preseason All-Conference Team. Anderson led all programs with three First-Team selections—forward Emmanuel Arkoh (Barcelona, Spain), midfielder Juan Pablo Lepervanche (Caracas, Venezuela) and defender Marc Vila (Vilassar de Mar, Spain). Last season was the first wearing the Black and Gold for all three honorees.
In 2024, Lepervanche tallied 823 minutes on the pitch, starting 13 of 15 games played. He recorded four goals—two of which were from the spot—and three assists on the season. Arkoh picked up eight starts from 14 games played, recording two goals and one assist across 737 minutes of play. Vila solidified his position on AU's backline, playing 1440 minutes, starting and finishing every game of the season. He totaled three goals, including one game-winner and one from the spot, and contributed to Anderson's three-straight shutouts to wrap up the 2024 campaign.
Anderson opens the season at Converse on Sept. 4. The Trojans' first SAC game is against Emory & Henry at home on Sept. 14.
The full release can be found here.
SAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank School (1st place votes) Points
1 Lenoir-Rhyne (2) 84
2 Wingate (3) 82
3 Coker (3) 80
4 Mars Hill (1) 71
5 Lincoln Memorial 62
6 Anderson 57
7 Emory & Henry 53
8 Catawba 52
9 Carson-Newman 36
10 Tusculum 16
11 Newberry 12
