The Sun Belt men’s soccer conference has been the best in college soccer this season by every unit of measurement. Here is a preview of a legendary conference tournament field featuring three top 5 teams.

Home Safe: Marshall, UCF, West Virginia

As three of the top 5 teams in the country, Marshall, UCF, and West Virginia are assured an at-large bid. Only left for these three is a conference championship crown that would surely come with an overall number one seed heading into the NCAA tournament.   

Work to Do: James Madison

A big win against No. 1 UCF to close out the season did wonders for James Madison’s resume. It lands the team in a unique position where it is possible it has done enough for an at-large bid, but a first-round loss could jeopardize that.

Win and In: Kentucky, Georgia State, South Carolina, Old Dominion

These four know what is at stake. A championship is the only way into the NCAA tournament, anything else will not be enough. Kentucky is in the best shape, undefeated in seven with back to back wins against No. 1 Marshall and No. 1 UCF. But with just a .500 record, the Wildcats have more to do.

Quarterfinals Preview:

No. 8 Old Dominion at No. 1 Marshall

Having traveled to and defeated Old Dominion on October 27, Marshall has plenty of confidence going in, not that it needed it as regular season champions and winners of 14 from 16. And losers of six in a row, Old Dominion must channel levels it has not shown in a long time.

No. 7 South Carolina at. No. 2 UCF

These two played a close 3-2 matchup towards the end of the regular season, but that was in South Carolina, and this game will be in Florida where UCF has lost just once. But that one loss did come on a spooky Halloween night where UCF lost to James Madison, costing them a regular season championship. This game will reveal the mental state of one of the best in the country, and is South Carolina could make a run.

No. 6 Georgia State vs. No. 3 West Virginia

Losers of just one, West Virginia has had an epic regular season but that goes out the window in a conference tournament matchup on neutral ground. Especially against a Georgia State team that nearly upset the Mountaineers in a 3-4 loss to close out September.

No. 5 Kentucky vs. No. 4 James Madison

The two most in-form Sun Belt teams clash in what is the most intriguing first round matchup. Kentucky has won three in a row to cap off seven undefeated, while James Madison is also unbeaten through seven and has won four straight. Whoever makes it out of this game is a potential dark horse to win it all.

Final Notes

• Marshall won the regular season championship.

• Kentucky returns to defend 2022 Sun Belt Tournament Champion.

• UCF, Marshall, South Carolina, West Virginia, and James Madison chasing first Sun Belt tournament title.

• No. 1 UCF, No. 4 West Virginia, and No. 6 Marshall are three nationally ranked Sun Belt teams.

• Marshall lead the conference with 21 goals, and 44 total, which ranks second nationally.

• Marshall ranks second nationally with +32 goal differential.

• Kentucky has best defense with six conceded in nine games.

• Lucca Dourado of UCF leads in-conference goals with six.

• Pablo Simon of Marshall and Kevin Larsson of James Madison lead in-conference assists with five.

• Casper Mols of Kentucky and Gabriel Perrotta of Marshall lead in-conference shutouts with four.

• 9 TDS TOP 100 Players in Attendance: No. 2 Matthew Bell (Marshall), No. 6 Morris Duggan (Marshall), No. 10 Marcus Caldeira (West Virginia), No. 33 Taimu Okiyoshi (Marshall), No. 38 Gabriel Perrotta (Marshall), No. 44 Alexander Stjernegaard (Marshall), No. 47 Lucca Dourado (UCF), No. 51 Yutaro Tsukada (West Virginia), No. 85 Adam Aoumaich (Marshall).

• 8 TDS Top 100 Freshmen in Attendance: No. 3 Takahiro Fujita (Marshall), No. 6 Rai Pinto (Marshall), No. 10 Marco Silva (Marshall), No. 14 Yanis Belatrache (UCF), No. 17 Saku Heiskanen (UCF), No. 18 Luca Nokolai (James Madison), No. 20 Constantinos Christou (West Virginia), No. 76 Oliver Hlynsson (Georgia State).

• The semifinals are November 8, and the final is on November 12.