GREENSBORO, N.C. – With a little under two weeks until the Hokies kick off their season opener against Loyola Marymount, ACC coaches voted Tech to finish fourth in the Coastal, while forward Kristo Strickler was named preseason watch list, as announced by the league on Monday afternoon.
Tech is coming off an impressive 11-win season and made it to their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, and their second Sweet Sixteen appearance in the last three years under head coach Mike Brizendine.
Strickler, the Hilliard, Ohio native, is coming off an impressive sophomore campaign that saw him start every game for Tech and lead the team in minutes played (1,592) goals (10), points (24) and game-winning goals (4).
The ACC topped all leagues with seven men's soccer programs among the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Preseason Top 25. ACC teams comprised seven of the top 16 teams in the poll: Wake Forest (4), North Carolina (6), Notre Dame (9), Duke (10), Virginia (12), Louisville (14) and Virginia Tech (16). In all, 10 of the ACC's 12 men's soccer teams received votes in the initial poll. NC State, Syracuse and Clemson each received votes but were just outside of the top 25.
The Hokies open their season on the road with a West Coast trip as they play Loyola Marymount on Aug. 30, followed by a match against UC Santa Barbara on Sept. 1.