IRVING, Texas – Defending C-USA regular-season champion and 2015 NCAA participant Kentucky has been selected to repeat as the coaches’ preseason favorite to win the Conference USA men’s soccer title in 2016. Wildcat senior midfielder Napo Matsoso has been voted the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors go to senior defender Marvin Hezel of FIU, which earned the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament last season.

Complete C-USA Men's Soccer Preseason Release (PDF)
 
Matsoso sprinkled in a bit of everything for Kentucky last season, earning All-Conference USA first-team honors for the second consecutive year. Matsoso started 15 games at midfield, leading the team with 14 points on four goals, three of which were game-winners, and six assists. He is joined on the annual preseason squad by teammates Stefan Stojkovic, the lone underclassmen on the preseason squad, and Jordan Wilson, who anchored a Wildcat back line that boasted a shutout percentage of 0.53 (11th, NCAA) and a team goals-against average of 0.66 (9th, NCAA).
 
Hezel was named to the C-USA All-Conference first team and all-tournament team a year ago after leading the Panthers to their first conference men’s soccer title. The senior was instrumental in FIU’s run, shutting out opponents in the semifinal and title matches. Senior forward Luis Betancur joins Hezel on the preseason team and led FIU in goals with nine last season (fourth in C-USA). The Panthers were selected third by the coaches.
 
Charlotte was picked to finish second in the preseason poll and senior midfielder Brandt Bronico claims a spot on the All-Conference USA preseason team. Bronico earned first-team honors a year ago and ranked second on the conference scoring chart with 26 points on the season, including four game-winning goals.
 
New Mexico and South Carolina tied for fourth in the preseason poll. Lobo senior duo Niko Hansen and Chris Wehan were named to the preseason squad. Hansen was a member of the All-Conference USA second team in 2015 as a forward, finishing the season fourth in C-USA for shots per game (2.94), while Wehan was a first-team selection in the midfield, ranking second in the league for goals per game (.56) with 10 on the season.
 
Representing the Gamecocks on the squad are seniors Danny Deakin and Koty Millard. Deakin finished his junior season ranked third in C-USA in total points (24) to earn a nod on the All-Conference first team. Millard, a local product out of Columbia, anchored a formidable South Carolina backline and earned All-Conference USA second-team honors in 2015.
 
Rounding out the preseason team Old Dominion senior Alex Tiesenhausen. The lone goalkeeper on the squad, Tiesenhausen ranked third in C-USA for saves (64) and in shutouts with five.
 
The top seven teams at the conclusion of the regular season earn a spot in the 2016 Conference USA Championship, hosted by Marshall Nov. 9-13. The league’s 22^nd season kicks off Friday, Aug. 26.

2016 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE USA TEAM
 

Name	School	Year	Pos.	Hometown
Brandt Bronico	Charlotte	Sr.	MF	High Point, North Carolina
Luis Betancur	FIU	Sr.	F	Parkland, Florida
Marvin Hezel	FIU	Sr.	D	Waldshut, Germany
Napo Matsoso	Kentucky	Sr.	MF	Louisville, Kentucky
Stefan Stojkovic	Kentucky	Jr.	F	Halmsted, Sweden
Jordan Wilson	Kentucky	Sr.	D	Auchterarder, Scotland
Niko Hansen	New Mexico	Sr.	F	Sacramento, California
Chris Wehan	New Mexico	Sr.	MF	Laguna Niguel, California
Alex Tiesenhausen	Old Dominion	Sr.	GK	Graz, Austria
Danny Deakin	South Carolina	Sr.	MF	Sheffield, England
Koty Millard	South Carolina	Sr.	D	Columbia, South Carolina

  Napo Matsoso, Kentucky, Sr., MF

2016 C-USA PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Marvin Hezel, FIU, Sr., D

2016 C-USA PRESEASON POLL
(as selected by C-USA coaches)
1.    Kentucky
2.    Charlotte
3.    FIU
4t.   New Mexico
       South Carolina
6.    Old Dominion
7.    UAB
8.    Marshall
9.    Florida Atlantic

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