The 2026 Southern Conference preseason coaches' poll placed the UNC Greensboro men's soccer team in second position, awarding the Spartans 31 points and two first‑place votes, trailing only Furman, which topped the chart with 34 points and four top votes.
Preseason Honors
Three Spartans earned spots on the 2026 SoCon Preseason All‑Conference Team, with senior forward Steven Hernandez and midfielder Seth Wilson receiving the nod, while defender Mohammed Sumaila also featured on the list.
The core of the 2025 squad returns largely intact, bringing back 11 players from a season that produced a 12‑5‑6 record and a 3‑2 conference slate, a campaign that secured the program’s 20th NCAA Tournament appearance despite facing one of the nation’s toughest schedules.
Among those returnees, Hernandez contributed five goals and five assists for 15 points last year, while Wilson logged 59 saves in goal, starting every game. Sumaila anchored the back line, appearing in 22 matches and logging over 1,700 minutes.
The Spartans open the new campaign with a three‑game homestand, beginning with a showdown against VCU on August 20, and all regular‑season home matches at UNCG Soccer Stadium will be offered free of charge to fans.
National rankings also reflect the team’s preseason optimism, with the United Soccer Coaches poll listing UNC Greensboro at No. 14, TopDrawerSoccer at No. 11 and College Soccer News at No. 18.