FROM STAFF REPORTS

The University of Montevallo men’s soccer team was voted to finish third in the Peach Belt Conference, according to league coaches.

This is the second-straight year the Falcons have been selected to finish third in the preseason vote. Last season, the Falcons went 18-2-2 en route to their first Peach Belt Conference tournament championship.

Despite finishing fourth in the conference standings last season, the Falcons went on to win the Peach Belt Conference tournament and hosted the NCAA Southeast Region tournament.

Montevallo returns a strong core of players and welcomes 19 new faces to the team. Returning for the Falcons are preseason All-Peach Belt Conference picks Gary O’Neill and Phil Jackson. Also coming back is second team All-Peach Belt Conference goalkeeper Brendan Ledgeway.

Defending regular season champion Clayton State University was picked to finish first in the conference standings. Flagler College, which finished just ahead of the Falcons in last season’s standings before falling to Montevallo in the Peach Belt Conference championship game, was picked to finish second.

Montevallo opens the regular season Sept. 1 at 5 p.m. on the road at Lees-McRae.