Charlotte, NC – The 15th-ranked Charlotte 49ers men’s soccer team, who captured last season’s Conference USA regular-season championship, were picked to repeat as Conference USA champions in a vote by the league’s nine head coaches. Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Elliot Panicco (Huntersville, N.C./Hough H.S.) was tabbed as the Conference USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

The Niners return seven starters and 17 letterwinners off last season’s Conference USA regular-season championship and NCAA Tournament team. The 49ers have added 12 talented newcomers to the roster as well.

Since returning to Conference USA in 2013, the 49ers have captured two Conference USA regular-season titles as well as winning the 2013 Conference USA Tournament title. The 49ers posted a 7-1 Conference USA record last season en route to the regular-season championship.

The Conference USA preseason coaches’ poll is as follows – Charlotte is picked first, followed by New Mexico, FIU, Kentucky, South Carolina, UAB, Old Dominion, Marshall and Florida Atlantic. The top seven teams advance to the Conference USA Tournament which will be played at Old Dominion, November 8-12.

The 49ers are in their sixth season under the direction of head coach Kevin Langan, who earned Conference USA Coach of the Year honors last season. Langan has guided the 49ers to five NCAA Tournament berths and 64 wins during his five seasons at the helm of the 49ers men’s soccer program.

Charlotte’s 17 returning letterwinners are led by Panicco, 2016 Academic All-American defender Callum Montgomery to go along with standouts forwards Daniel Bruce, Maclean Holbrook and Marco Sunol-Rojas, midfielders Tommy Madden, Ryan Spaulding and Zhuvonte Wilson and defender Sean Bowman.

Last season, Panicco earned Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors as well as being voted first-team All-Conference USA and earning the league’s Golden Glove Award. Panicco was named freshman All-American by College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer.com. In 2016, Panicco led Conference USA and ranked 13th in the nation with a 0.64 goals against average while anchoring a 49ers defense which recorded 10 shutouts.

In the 49ers history, Charlotte has made 12 appearances in the NCAA Tournament including six straight trips to the Tournament. Charlotte has reached the College Cup twice in 1996 and 2011. In 2011, the 49ers reached the College Cup finals. The 49ers have been a national seed in the NCAA Tournament in three of the last four years.

Charlotte begins the 2017 season with an exhibition game at Transamerica Field against Longwood, Tuesday, August 15. The 49ers begin the regular-season at Transamerica Field against Winthrop, Saturday, August 26. Charlotte plays Marshall at Transamerica Field in their Conference USA opener, Saturday, September 9.