As home to the last two Division 1 Men’s National Champions, there is no doubt that the ACC is the best conference in college soccer. 2021 saw Clemson lift the trophy, while 2022 saw Syracuse sweep the regular and post-season ACC trophies en route to its first-ever national championship. That success came a season after they finished 8-8-2 and missed out on the NCAA tournament, pointing to the thin margins of the league and how luck and a few key additions can lead to glory. Here is the preview for the ACC men’s soccer season.

2022 ACC Standings:

Atlantic Division

1. Syracuse 5-1-2 (18-2-5) – National Champions

In a move that may revolutionize how teams defend their national championships, Syracuse has opted to retool by utilizing the transfer portal to bring in known collegiate stars rather than an extensive recruiting class. They bring in just one freshman and thirteen transfers like Felipe D’Agostini – 20222 Summit League Offensive Player of the Year, Jason Smith – 2023 USL 2 Goalkeeper of the Year, and Mateo Leveque – 2021 Big East Freshman of the Year. Ian McIntyre and his staff are not interested in taking a step back.

2. Wake Forest 5-3-0 (14-6-0) – NCAA First Round

With a top-nine recruiting class in the country, Wake Forest is ready to improve on their shocking early exit last season, marking the first time in eight years that the storied program failed to make it out of the opening round. The group returns a talented core of players that will look to make amends.

3. Louisville 4-3-1 (9-6-3) – NCAA First Round

Another ACC program that will look to improve on a first-round exit, Louisville is an intriguing proposition for next season as they lose valued players like Aboubacar Camara but gain elite replacements like Gage Guerra, the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year. The challenge will be figuring out an ideal rotation before ACC play begins.

4. Clemson 3-4-1 (13-7-1) – NCAA Second Round

Clemson clearly was not satisfied with their follow-up to a national championship season as they went out and secured outstanding Freshmen to supplement incredible additions from the transfer portal. At the core of their acquisitions is Joran Gerbet, who transfers from Oregon State, where he was the Pac-12 Player of the Year. Alex Meinhard was another highly coveted transfer thanks to his goal-scoring exploits at Tulsa, accounting for 37 goal contributions in 39 games.

5. Boston College 1-4-3 (4-7-5)

On paper, Boston College did not have a good season, but a deeper look reveals a team on the verge of a potential breakout. The team only lost by more than a goal twice and drew another five. It could have easily been a winning season with a few moments in those games going their way. They will have to find ways to replace Stefan Sigurdarson and the 12 goals he scored, but they return plenty of players who now know what it takes to win.

6. NC State 1-5-2 (6-7-5)

Another ACC team ready to make a push for an automatic bid, NC State boasts an impressive mix of underrated transfers and talented Freshmen. Gabriel Velez and Hakim Karamoko are two of the best players in the 2023 class, while Scotty Taylor is a forward transferring from Duke, where he would have got more looks almost anywhere else.

Coastal Division

1. Duke 5-0-3 (13-2-4) – NCAA Quarterfinalist

Speaking of Duke, the reigning ACC Coastal Division champions have work to do in several departments, as it will be without its three top scorers and any goalkeepers to have played a competitive collegiate game. Fortunately, they bring back senior captain Nick Pariano and a highly touted sophomore class. And as far as the goalkeeping dilemma, Julian Eyestone comes in as a USYNT player and arguably the best in his class.

2. Virginia 5-1-2 (10-4-5) – NCAA Second Round

The combination of talented starters returning and the fourth-ranked recruiting class in the country could add up to a deep NCAA tournament run. And there is no better conference to prep for that than the ACC.

3. Pittsburgh 3-2-3 (12-5-5) – NCAA Semifinalist

Pittsburgh found ways to keep winning even when it seemed unlikely, leading to a Cinderella run to the final four. The challenge now is replacing all the talent the team lost, from goalkeeper to midfield to the forward line. But if anyone can get it done it is Jay Vidovich, who has won ACC Coach of the Year seven times.

4. North Carolina 2-2-4 (8-6-5) – NCAA First Round

As one of the top defenses in the ACC last season, North Carolina defended well but could not find ways to put the ball in the back of the net, averaging one goal a game. Recognizing the need for reinforcements, the coaching staff acquired David Bercedo, whose 14 goals for Quinnipiac was third in the NCAA. With that addition and other transfers in Martin Vician from Harvard, and Quenzi Huerman from Seton Hall, who scored six and seven goals, the North Carolina offense is ready to carry the team to a much improved season.

5. Notre Dame 3-4-1 (8-7-2)

As can happen with highly talented teams who reached great heights, Notre Dame followed their 2021 trip to the NCAA Semi-Finals with a 2022 season near the bottom of the standings and no automatic bid. A recruiting class ranked 26th in the country will go a long way in rebuilding the future.

6. Virginia Tech 0-8-0 (3-14-1)

Virginia Tech had a rough go of it last year, winning no ACC games and three in total, ending a streak of six straight NCAA tournament appearances. What will help is having a coach in Mike Brizendine, who has led several turnarounds in his 14-year tenure at the program.

 

Top Freshmen to Watch:

Julian Eyestone, Duke (#21 Ranked TDS Class of 2023)

Duke needed a goalkeeper, and they acquire as good of a Freshman as you can get in Eyestone, who graduates high school a year early. The two-time MLS Next All-Star combines excellent reflexes with maturity beyond his years, skills that have made him a regular with the USYNT.

Pranav DuBroff, Wake Forest (#56 Ranked TDS Class of 2023)

As a player with high IQ, DuBroff can play in multiple positions across the backline or midfield. Those are the kind of players Wake Forest has built its foundation on, meaning the Texas native could receive a significant role sooner than expected.

Cesar Cordova, Virginia (#72 Ranked TDS Class of 2023)

In the forward from Texas, Virginia lands a prospect on the verge of a professional contract but chose the collegiate route for at least one season. The incoming freshman has already played for the El Salvador U20 national team and the Houston Dynamo in their preseasons. With the right season, where his play contributes to team success, Cordova could be playing professional soccer sooner than typical.

Mathieu Brick, Clemson (#93 Ranked TDS Class of 2023)

As a fullback whose engine allows him to impact both sides of the ball across 90 minutes, Clemson could find a role for their freshman as the season develops. Playing as a first-year on a stacked roster is no easy feat, but if anyone has the makeup and maturity to do it, Brick can as he comes in as an Atlanta United MLS Next captain.

Santiago Ferreira, Pittsburgh (#102 Ranked TDS Class of 2023)

Pittsburgh has several stars to replace, which is ideal for a freshman looking to earn a spot. And as the younger brother of U.S. National and FC Dallas star Jesus Ferreira, the midfielder will not be intimidated by his new stage as he graduates from the FC Dallas system.

 

Top Players to Watch:

Kamran Acito, Duke

The 2022 ACC Freshman of the Year, Acito is everything you want in the modern center-back, from imposing size and athleticism, to quality in the air, technical grace to rival the best midfielders, all underpinned by exceptional leadership. Duke has found a gem that could lead its backline for a year if professional offers do not prove too tempting.

Ousmane Sylla, Clemson

As a player whose style warrants the #10 jersey, Sylla will be at the center of the Clemson push for another national championship run. Sylla is one of those players that the ball seems glued to, and even when opponents think they have won possession, the ball ricochets and somehow stays in his path. He is a joy to observe and a top player to watch in every definition.

Sander Roed, Louisville

As the top returning player for Louisville, Roed will assume a lot of responsibility in leading the team back to the NCAA tournament. And providing excellent vision and delivery in the flow of play and set-pieces, Roed is always a danger to create something from nothing.

Filip Mirkovic, Pittsburgh

Another ACC midfielder with excellent vision and delivery, Mirkovic led the ACC in assists with 12, good for sixth in the NCAA. All eyes will be on the talented New York native to lead a team who lost many of its stars from a season ago.

Leonardo Afonso, Virginia

With 15 goals over the previous two seasons, Afonso has led one of the best teams in the country in scoring for back-to-back years. Coaches dream about players like Afonso, a good finisher with both feet who will take on his man when the opportunity presents itself and presses endlessly to put opposing backlines under pressure. Virginia is a threat anytime their talented Brazilian is on the pitch.