Men's Soccer | 8/21/2017 1:00:00 PM

STATESBORO - The Georgia Southern men's soccer team has been picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference for the upcoming 2017 season in a preseason poll of the league's coaches, released today.

The Eagles received 27 points in the poll and one first-place vote, picked behind only Coastal Carolina, who received 33 points and four first-place votes. The two teams tied for the Sun Belt Conference regular season title in 2017.

Georgia State was picked to finish third with 25 points, including one first-place vote. Hartwick (19 points), Appalachian State (16 points) and Howard (6 points) round out the poll.

"The Sun Belt is a growing leage in NCAA Division I men's soccer, and all of the programs know how competitive it is," Head Coach John Murphy said. "Every team is capable of beating each other, so each game is a unique challenge. 2017 will be no different. 

"I am also looking forward to how all of us in the Sun Belt compete in our non-league contests. Our viability as a league will grow with everyone's improved success in these games. I wish all of my Sun Belt colleagues the very best this Fall."

The Eagles finished the 2016 season with an 8-8-3 overall record, with a 3-1-1 mark in the Sun Belt. The regular season title was the first conference title for Georgia Southern in program history.

Click here to view the complete Sun Belt Conference preseason poll release.

Georgia Southern will open up its 2017 regular season this weekend, traveling to Charleston, S.C., for the Aaron Olitsky Tournament, hosted by the College of Charleston. The Eagles will open up action in the tournament on Friday, August 25th, facing Monmouth at 5 p.m.