Charlotte Named Preseason Favorites in American Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Coaches Poll

IRVING, Texas – Defending American Athletic Conference men’s soccer tournament champion Charlotte has been named the 2024 preseason favorite, as voted by the league’s head coaches.

The 49ers were named the favorites after receiving 48 points, including six of the eight first place votes. FIU finished second in the poll with 43 points and the remaining two first place votes, followed by Memphis in third place with 35 points and South Florida in fourth place with 29 points. Florida Atlantic rounded out the top five with 25 points, followed by Tulsa (23), Temple (12) and UAB (9). Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

Charlotte’s senior defender Ian Pilcher was voted the unanimous Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, while Tulsa’s senior goalkeeper Alex Lopez was voted the unanimous Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. FIU’s senior forward Eduardo Mustre was voted the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Pilcher helped guide the 49ers to its first conference tournament title and was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the 2023 American Athletic Conference Championship. He was selected second team all-conference in 2023. Pilcher started 17 games and anchored a defense that recorded eight shutouts.

Lopez has been named Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year for a record-breaking third consecutive season. Lopez, a two-time American Goalkeeper of the Year (2021, 2022), is sixth in American Athletic Conference history in wins in goal (22) and fifth in shutouts (15).

Mustre started all 19 matches for the Panthers, leading the team in scoring. He finished the season with 11 goals, 24 points and 58 shots. Mustre earned first team all-conference honors, finishing second in The American in goals.

Along with Lopez and Mustre, Charlotte’s senior forward Brigham Larsen, Memphis’ graduate defender Jackson Kim and South Florida’s graduate forward Jalen Anderson were all voted to the preseason all-conference team unanimously. FIU led all teams with four selections, while Charlotte, Memphis, Florida Atlantic, South Florida and Tulsa each had two.

2024 American Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll