Mercer Predicted to Win 2024 Men’s Soccer Championship

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – For the first time since the 2020-21 season, Mercer has been picked to claim the 2024 regular season championship in voting of the leagues six head coaches. The defending tournament title winners along with their head coach, Brad Ruzzo will be vying for their third SoCon championship in program history, the first since 2018. 

The Bears scored twice in the first six minutes of the 2023 SoCon Championship match to claim a 2-1 victory over No. 3 seed Furman.

The coaches also selected a 11-member preseason all-conference team.

Mercer picked up a conference best four selections. Furman, UNCG, and Wofford followed with two each, while ETSU placed one each on the preseason team.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams or players in the balloting. 

Mercer accumulated two first-place votes for a total of 22 points. Wofford collected two more first place votes for a total of 20 points, following closely in second place. UNCG picked up a first-place vote and 17 points for a third-place finish, while Furman accumulated 16 points and the final first place vote for fourth. ETSU came in fifth with 10 points and VMI rounded out the poll finishing with five points. 

Mercer went 7-6-8 overall last season and 1-2-2 in conference play, coming in as the No. 5 seed to win the regular season title. The Bears played FIU in the first round of the NCAA tournament, falling 1-0.

Three of the four preseason all-conference selections for the Bears earned postseason recognition last season. Barzee Blama, Trevor McMullen, and Sekou Agard each earned all-tournament distinctions with Agard being named tournament MVP. Agard also received a first team all-conference citation with Blama on the second team. Carlos Santamaria rounds out the preseason team selections for Mercer.

Blama netted eight goals, three of which were game-winning, and amassed 17 points overall last season. Santamaria scored four goals, including two game-winning goals, and contributed 12 points throughout the 2023 season. Agard started all 21 games last year and played all 90 minutes of the SoCon Championship game. McMullen made 63 saves last year for a 0.82 goals against average with six shoutouts.

Furman, UNCG, and Wofford followed with two all-conference selections.

Forward Christian Kraus and defender Slade Starnes were both All-Tournament and All-Conference selections a season ago. Kraus led the Paladins offensively with 10 goals, two game-winning, and five assists for a total of 25 points on the season. Starnes started in all five conference games, coming off an injury, to earn a second team All-Conference nod.

Forward Arnaud Tattevin and midfielder Basile Marc made the preseason team after making the All-Conference second team last season. Tattevin scored seven goals for the Spartans, contributing 14 points. Marc started all 17 games last season and contributed three points with a goal and an assist.

Wofford midfielder Jakob Andersson was selected after leading the league in assists last year. He made seven assists, combined with two goals for 11 points in 16 starts. Bryce Peacock, a defender, started in all 17 games for the Terriers in 2023.

ETSU rounds out the preseason team with Gabriel Ramos, a forward who started 17 games for the Bucs. Ramos scored six goals on his way to contributing 17 points on the season with two game winning goals. 

The 2024 regular season begins on Thursday, Aug. 22, as all six SoCon teams are all in action.

The SoCon Men’s Soccer Championship will feature all six schools. The first round will feature two matchups, No. 5 vs. No. 4 and No. 3 vs. No. 6, and will be held at the No. 1 and No. 2 team’s fields on Nov. 8. The semifinals will be played on Nov. 10 followed by the championship on Nov. 16 or 17. 

2023 Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll 

1. Mercer (2)                  22

2. Wofford (2)                20 

3. UNCG (1)                   17 

4. Furman (1)                16 

5. ETSU                            10 

6. VMI                                5 

() denotes first-place votes 

2024 Men’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team 

F            Gabriel Ramos, ETSU 

F            Christian Kraus, Furman 

F            Barzee Blama, Mercer

F            Arnaud Tattevin, UNCG

MF        Carlos Santamaria, Mercer 

MF         Basile Marc, UNCG

MF        Jakob Andersson, Wofford 

D            Slade Starnes, Furman

D            Sekou Agard, Mercer 

D            Bryce Peacock, Wofford       

GK         Trevor McMullen, Mercer