ATLANTA, Ga. (August 23, 2022) – Defending Southern Athletic Association champion Oglethorpe was predicted to repeat in 2022, finishing first in the SAA Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll.

The Stormy Petrels garnered five first place votes and 61 total points to top the poll for the second-straight season.

Birmingham-Southern grabbed a pair of first place votes and 50 points to finish second in the poll while Centre was third with 47 points and the remaining first place nod. Berry and Rhodes tied for fourth with 40 points while Hendrix and Sewanee each totaled 21. Millsaps finished eighth.

The poll was conducted among the SAA’s eight men’s soccer head coaches.

2022 SAA Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll

1. Oglethorpe - 61 pts. (5)

2. Birmingham-Southern - 50 pts. (2)

3. Centre - 47 pts. (1)

T4. Berry - 40 pts.

T4. Rhodes - 40 pts.

T6. Hendrix - 21 pts.

T6. Sewanee - 21 pts.

8. Millsaps - 8 pts.

Oglethorpe lived up to its preseason billing a year ago, going 6-0-1 in the SAA to capture its ninth conference championship. Led by a suffocating defense, OU allowed just three goals in league play while scoring 21. SAA Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year Hayden Binfield returns looking to repeat the Stormy Petrels performance from last season.

BSC was fifth in the final 2021 standings but returns SAA Offensive Player of the Year and All-America forward Colman Jennings to lead the way in 2022. He paced the conference and ranked 17th nationally with 42 points, posting 16 goals and 10 assists. Centre closed the regular season third in the conference standings before going on a run for the ages in the SAA tournament. The Colonels got by Hendrix 2-1 in the first round, blanked Sewanee 4-0 in the semifinals and then upset top-seed Oglethorpe 3-0 in the championship game. Centre represented the SAA in the NCAA Tournament and played 17th-ranked Emory to a draw in the first round, but came up short in the shootout.

The 2022 SAA season begins Labor Day weekend with a very busy opening slate. Centre at Otterbein, Sewanee at Maryville and BSC at Huntingdon on Thursday, Sept. 1 start things off for the SAA. Oglethorpe, Millsaps, Hendrix and Rhodes kick off their season’s the following day while Berry travels to California and starts its year on Saturday, Sept. 3.

Fans can follow SAA soccer all season long with coverage and live links on SAA-Sports.com.