GREENSBORO, N.C. - With the less than a month until the Hokies kick off their season opener against Virginia, ACC Coaches voted Tech to finish third in the ACC North Region, while forward Kristo Strickler was named one of 11 players to the preseason watch list, as announced by the league Tuesday afternoon.
This year in league play, teams will compete in two regions (North & South), with six conference games against regional opponents over a nine-week period. The North is comprised of Louisville, Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech while the South is made up of Clemson, Duke, NC State, North Carolina, Wake Forest.
Tech returns to action after finishing last season 10-6-3 and made it to their fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, which is the longest streak in program history and made three Sweet Sixteen appearances under head coach Mike Brizendine.
Strickler, the Hilliard, Ohio native, is coming off a junior campaign that saw him garner second-team ACC and All-Region honors and lead the team in points (25), goals (11), multi goal games (3) and game-winning goals (4).
The Hokies open their season at home on Thompson Field with a rivalry match against Virginia on Oct. 3.
2020 ACC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
Overall Champion
Clemson (5)
Wake Forest (4)
North Carolina (1)
Virginia (1)
North Region
- Virginia (9), 59
- Pitt (2), 44
- Virginia Tech, 35
- Syracuse, 30
- Louisville, 29
- Notre Dame, 28
South Region
- Clemson (5), 45
- Wake Forest (5), 44
- North Carolina (1), 33
- NC State, 21
- Duke, 17
First place votes are in parentheses.
2020 Preseason Watch List
Kimarni Smith, Senior, Forward, Clemson
Jack Doran, Graduate, Midfielder, Duke
Pedro Fonseca, Junior, Forward, Louisville
Alec Smir, Junior, Goalkeeper, North Carolina
George Asomani, Senior, Midfielder, NC State
Jack Lynn, Junior, Forward, Notre Dame
Edward Kizza, Senior, Forward, Pitt
Sondre Norheim, Senior, Defender, Syracuse
Nathaniel Crofts, Senior, Forward, Virginia
Kristo Strickler, Senior, Forward, Virginia Tech
Michael DeShields, Senior, Defender, Wake Forest