CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Clemson has been chosen as the favorite to win the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Soccer Championship following a vote of the league’s 12 head coaches. The Tigers were picked as the ACC favorite by six coaches.
Wake Forest earned a pair of votes for the overall championship, while reigning national champion Syracuse, Duke, Pitt and Virginia claimed one vote apiece. In tight voting, Clemson was tabbed the Atlantic Division favorite, while Pitt was chosen as the Coastal Division favorite.
The league also unveiled its 2023 Preseason Watch List, consisting of one student-athlete from each program, nominated by the respective schools.
Clemson returns All-ACC players Ousmane Sylla and Mohamed Seye, as well as All-ACC Freshman Team selection Joseph Andema. The Tigers finished with five first-place votes to win the division and 58 total points to narrowly top both Wake Forest, which claimed three first-place votes and 56 points, and Syracuse, which earned four first-place votes and 53 points. Louisville (34), Boston College (23) and NC State (22) were picked fourth through sixth in the division, respectively.
Pitt was voted the Coastal Division favorite for the third straight season. The Panthers were NCAA semifinalists last season as they reached the NCAA College Cup for the second time in the last three seasons. They were chosen as the division favorite on five ballots, finishing with 56 points to narrowly top Duke, which finished with three first-place votes and 51 points, and Virginia, which also earned three first-place votes and 50 total points. North Carolina also earned a first-place vote and totaled 39 points and was followed by Notre Dame with 28 points and Virginia Tech with 22.
Six ACC teams are ranked in the preseason United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll, including four in the top 10 and all six among the top 20. Reigning national champion Syracuse tops the poll, while Duke (4), Pitt (5) and Clemson (9) also hold top-10 marks. Virginia is ranked No. 15, and Wake Forest is No. 18, while Louisville is receiving votes.
Duke, Pitt and Syracuse reached the NCAA Quarterfinals last season, with Pitt and Syracuse each advancing to the NCAA College Cup. Syracuse won its first national championship in program history, capped with a dramatic penalty-kick win over Indiana in the championship game. ACC teams have won 19 NCAA men’s soccer championships, including back-to-back (Clemson, 2021).
The 2023 ACC men’s soccer regular season officially gets underway on Thursday, Aug. 24. League play begins on Friday, Sept. 8.
The 2023 ACC Men’s Soccer Championship opens at campus sites on Wednesday, Nov. 1 and is capped by the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 12, at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.
2023 ACC Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
Overall Champion
Clemson, 6 votes
Wake Forest, 2
Duke, 1
Pitt, 1
Syracuse, 1
Virginia, 1
Atlantic Division
Clemson (5), 58
Wake Forest (3), 56
Syracuse (4), 53
Louisville, 34
Boston College, 23
NC State, 22
Coastal Division
Pitt (5), 56
Duke (3), 51
Virginia (3), 50
North Carolina (1), 39
Notre Dame, 28
Virginia Tech, 22
First-place votes in parentheses
2023 ACC Preseason Watch List
Augustine Boadi, So., M, Boston College
Ousmane Sylla, Sr., M, Clemson
Nick Pariano, Sr., M, Duke
Sander Roed, Jr., M, Louisville
Sam Williams, So., M, North Carolina
Will Buete, Jr., M, NC State
Paddy Burns, Sr., D, Notre Dame
Filip Mirkovic, Sr., M, Pitt
Giona Leibold, Jr., M, Syracuse
Leo Afonso, Sr., F, Virginia
Connor Jordan-Hyde, R-Sr., GK, Virginia Tech
Hosei Kijima, Sr., M, Wake Forest
