2017 docket includes six 2016 NCAA Tournament teams, seven RPI top-50 opponents
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky men’s soccer senior captain Alex Bumpus was named to the Conference USA Preseason Team and the Wildcats were picked to finish fourth in the results of polling of the league coaches.
Bumpus was Third Team All-C-USA and All-Southeast Region a year ago.
The Wildcats go into the season looking to build on three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and four in Head Coach Johan Cedergren’s previous five seasons at UK.
Kentucky will play its final preseason friendly at St. Louis on Saturday evening.
Kentucky will open the regular season at home on Aug. 25 against Marquette in what remains one of the nation’s nicest grounds – the Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex, home to the UK soccer program for the fourth year.
The conference season begins Sept. 8 at home v UAB.
The top seven teams at the conclusion of the regular season earn a spot in the 2017 Conference USA Championship, hosted by Old Dominion Nov. 8-12. The league’s 23rd season kicks off Friday, Aug. 25.
2017 C-USA Men’s Soccer Preseason Team
^Elliot Panicco, Charlotte, R-So., GK
*Santiago Patino, FIU, Jr., F
Paul Marie, FIU, Sr., D
Bjorn, Gudjonsson, South Carolina, Jr., F
David Valverde, UAB, Sr., MF
Julian Veen Uldal, South Carolina, So., MF
Alex Bumpus, Kentucky, Sr., D
Peyton Ericson, South Carolina, Jr., MF/D
Joris Ahlinvi, FIU, So., MF
Niko Klosterhalfen, ODU, Jr., MF
Tom Smart, New Mexico, R-So., D
Matthew Constant, New Mexico, So., D
*Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
^Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
2017 C-USA Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll
(First-Place Votes)
- Charlotte (4)
- New Mexico (2)
- FIU (2)
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- UAB (1)
- Old Dominion
- Marshall
- Florida Atlantic