ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne men's soccer team has been picked to finish fourth in the South Atlantic Conference this season, as voted on by the conference coaches. After Carlos Rubio stepped down in the fall for a position with Charlotte FC, long time assistant Jorge Morales takes the reigns as the program's interim head coach. 

Raul Canas and Carson-Newman transfer Maxime Wester were named to the Preseason All-Conference team while returners Hector Taboada and Xairo Villalon were listed as Players to Watch. The Bears other key returner is veteran Oskar Dahlberg, who returns up front after playing in 27 games the previous two seasons. After losing a significant part of their team from last season, Morales has worked to load up the team with a strong combination of freshman and transfers. Martin Juanche Gomez (Francis Marion), Alvaro Sanchez (UIndy), Angelo Paparoupas (High Point), Blake Whittle (Guilford), and Wester (Carson-Newman) will look to provide a good level experience to a team that includes 21 underclassman.

Last season Lenoir-Rhyne finished with an 8-5-4 (6-2-2 SAC) record and advanced to their second consecutive SAC Championship game. This included a dramatic penalty kick (8-7) victory over No. 5 Anderson in the conference semi-finals. 

Lenoir-Rhyne opens their season in the sunshine state with ranked matchups vs. No. 2 Rollins (Thursday) and No. 22 Florida Tech (Saturday). The first home game for the Bears will take place on Wednesday, September 2nd, vs. Lee. 

2026 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Anderson - 88 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Emory & Henry - 86 points (2 first-place votes)
3. Lincoln Memorial - 78 points (1 first-place vote)
4. Lenoir-Rhyne - 72 points
T5. Wingate - 57 points (1 first-place vote)
T5. Catawba - 57 points
7. Coker - 55 points
8. Mars Hill - 37 points
9. Carson-Newman - 34 points
10. Tusculum - 23 points (1 first-place vote)
11. Newberry - 18 points