Preseason poll highlights
The 2026 SoCon preseason men’s soccer poll placed the Liberty Flames third overall, awarding them 24 points and a single first‑place vote, marking the program’s inaugural season in the league. No Liberty player earned a spot on the preseason all‑conference team, underscoring the team’s new status.
Furman secured the top spot with 34 points and four first‑place votes, and the Paladins also appeared at No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches national ranking. UNCG followed in second with 31 points and three first‑place votes, ranking No. 14 nationally, while Mercer rounded out the top four with 23 points.
Tournament stakes and season opener
The SoCon tournament will run from November 3 through November 13 or 14, with the opening round on the 3rd and semifinals scheduled for the 8th; the champion will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Liberty’s season begins on Thursday at 10 p.m. EST against San Diego State, then moves to face No. 18 San Diego on Sunday, providing an early test for first‑year head coach Scott Wells.
Wells inherits a roster that entered the preseason without any player selected to the all‑conference team, a circumstance that adds a layer of intrigue to the team’s development as the schedule unfolds.