The High Point University men's soccer team was picked first in the Big South Preseason poll for the first time in school history the conference announced on Tuesday. Junior forward
Karo Okiomah was also selected as the Preseason Player of the Year.
“We are very pleased with the selection, I believe it is a reflection of the hard work that we have put in as a program and our continued growth,” head coach
Dustin Fonder said. “We are flattered that our peers think that highly of us. At the same time it does not really mean anything until you go out and play the games. We have eight conference games against difficult opponents and we hope to let the results speak for themselves.”
High Point received four first-place votes and 73 out of a possible 81 points in the voting, finishing ahead of Coastal Carolina and Winthrop which each totaled two top votes and 68 points from the panel. Liberty came in at the No. 4 slot with one top-nod and 50 points, followed by Radford with 42 points. At the sixth position was Gardner-Webb with 32 points and in seventh was UNC Asheville with 30 points. Presbyterian College was picked to finish at No. 8 with 23 points and VMI rounded out the voting with 19 points.
The Panthers, led by fourth-year head coach and 2009 Big South Coach of the Year
Dustin Fonder, posted its best finish in HPU's Division I history with a 9-7-2 overall mark in 2009. The Panthers also posted their best-ever league record with a 5-1-2 mark and second-place finish in the League, their highest in their 11-year history in the Big South. This season the team returns 10 starters and five of its top six scorers from 2009.
Okiomah was named third team All-South Atlantic Region by the NSCAA after playing in 16 games with 14 starts. He finished tied for the team lead in points with 14 and second on the team with five goals. The Austin, Texas native finished the season strong with three goals and an assist in the final three games. He is the first High Point men's soccer player ever selected as Preseason Player of the Year.
“I am very happy for the team,” Okiomah said. “This is a great award and it shows how hard we have worked. I am proud to have been named Preseason Player of the Year, it was really unexpected. After I got out of class I gave my dad a call and just said “hey dad guess what,” and had a big smile on my face. I hope that I can live up to the expectations.”
HPU will play one final exhibition game against N.C. State on Thursday, Aug. 26, in Raleigh, N.C., before returning home to open the season against Elon in Vert Stadium on Sept. 1.
2009 Big South Conference Preseason Men's Soccer Poll
| Team (first-place votes) |
Points |
| High Point (4) |
73 |
| Coastal Carolina (2) |
68 |
| Winthrop (2) |
68 |
| Liberty (1) |
50 |
| Radford |
42 |
| Gardner-Webb |
32 |
| UNC Asheville |
30 |
| Presbyterian |
23 |
| VMI |
19 |
