MELBOURNE, Fla. - Sunshine State Conference men's soccer coaches have chosen Palm Beach Atlantic University as the preseason favorite in 2019. With 96 total points and seven first-place votes in the poll, the Sailfish are expected to win a third consecutive regular-season championship.
Lynn University edged the defending National Champions, Barry University, for second place in the poll by two points, 83 to 81, respectively. Both the Fighting Knights and Buccaneers received a first-place vote in the preseason ranking. Fourth-place Nova Southeastern University tallied 76 points as well as the final two first-place votes, while Florida Tech rounds out the Top-5 following 71 points from conference coaches.
Florida Southern College sits in the middle of the poll with 53 points and is followed closely in the voting by the University of Tampa (45 points) and Rollins College (43 points). Saint Leo University (23 points), Eckerd College (21 points), and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (13 points) occupy the final three positions in the ranking.
Along with the 2018 regular-season championship, Palm Beach Atlantic claimed the SSC tournament title, a first for the Sailfish program. PBA fell to Lynn by way of penalty kicks in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Lynn advanced to meet Barry in the second round, in which the Buccaneers advanced following penalty kicks. Barry advanced past Lander University, Fort Hayes State University, and West Chester University to claim the 2018 National Championship. Lynn (3), Tampa (3), Florida Tech (2), and Barry (1) boast all nine of the SSC's men's soccer national championships.
SSC teams open up with non-conference matches on Thursday, September 5th with eight squads in action. The conference slate kicks off with four games on Saturday, September 21st. Barry (No. 1), PBA (No. 10), and Lynn (No. 12) represent the SSC in the 2019 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II preseason men's poll. The ranking was announced Tuesday, August 6th.
2019 SSC MEN’S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL
-
| Rank |
School |
Total |
| 1 |
Palm Beach Atlantic |
96 (7) |
| 2 |
Lynn |
83 (1) |
| 3 |
Barry |
81 (1) |
| 4 |
Nova Southeastern |
76 (2) |
| 5 |
Florida Tech |
71 |
| 6 |
Florida Southern |
53 |
| 7 |
Tampa |
45 |
| 8 |
Rollins |
43 |
| 9 |
Saint Leo |
23 |
| 10 |
Eckerd |
21 |
| 11 |
Embry-Riddle |
13 |
(First Place Votes)
See Also: SSC All-Americans | All-SSC Teams | SSC Champions | 2018 Standings
Previous SSC Men’s Soccer Polls
| Year |
Predicted
Winner |
Actual
Finish |
Actual
Winner |
Predicted
Finish |
| 2018 |
Palm Beach Atlantic |
1st |
Palm Beach Atlantic |
1st |
| 2017 |
Lynn |
3rd |
Palm Beach Atlantic |
2nd |
| 2016 |
Saint Leo |
7th |
Lynn |
T2nd |
| 2015 |
Lynn |
T4th |
Saint Leo |
2nd |
| 2014 |
Saint Leo |
2nd |
Lynn |
3rd |
| 2013 |
Rollins |
2nd |
Saint Leo |
5th |
| 2012 |
Lynn |
1st |
Lynn |
1st |
| 2011 |
Barry |
4th |
Lynn |
5th |
| 2010 |
Barry |
T1st |
Barry/Rollins |
1st / T3rd |
| 2009 |
Tampa |
T1st |
Rollins/Tampa |
3rd / 1st |
| 2008 |
Tampa |
2nd |
Lynn |
2nd |
| 2007 |
Lynn |
1st |
Lynn |
1st |
| 2006 |
Lynn |
2nd |
Rollins |
4th |
| 2005 |
Lynn |
2nd |
Saint Leo |
5th |
| 2004 |
Lynn |
T3rd |
Rollins |
3rd |
| 2003 |
Lynn |
1st |
Lynn |
1st |
| 2002 |
Barry |
1st |
Barry |
1st |
| 2001 |
Barry |
3rd |
Tampa |
3rd |
| 2000 |
Lynn |
2nd |
Barry |
2nd |