BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- The Davis & Elkins men's soccer team was picked third in the Mountain East Conference preseason poll.

Coming off a condensed spring season, which saw the Senators finish 7-1 in the regular season before falling 2-1 in the MEC semifinals to Notre Dame College, D&E will play a full slate of sixteen conference and two nonconference matches. The Senators were regular season runners-up to the University of Charleston.

Head Coach Dean Johnson returns seven all-MEC selections from last season, including a pair of first-team selections in Gianluca Fiorini and David Jara. Also returning are second-team selections Jeremy Coste, Kenshiro Yamaguchi, Daniel Cerezo, and Anderson Marroquin; as well as honorable mention all-MEC pick Davide Materazzi.

Charleston was selected the top team in the MEC with 64 points and eight first-place votes and open the season ranked No. 1 in the country. Notre Dame was picked second with 54 points and Davis & Elkins followed closely behind with 51 points in third place. West Virginia Wesleyan (38) was voted fourth, West Liberty (36) fifth, and Alderson Broaddus (31) sixth. Concord (19), Frostburg State (17) and Wheeling (14) rounded out the poll.

The regular season kicks off September 2 at home against Salem University.

2021 MEC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Charleston -- 64 (8)
2. Notre Dame -- 54 (1)
3. Davis & Elkins -- 51
4. West Virginia Wesleyan -- 38
5. West Liberty -- 36
6. Alderson Broaddus -- 31
7. Concord -- 19
8. Frostburg State -- 17
9. Wheeling – 14