UCU, Milligan Projected to Battle for 2025 Men's Soccer Crown

WALESKA, Ga. - It's expected to be a fight to the finish as Union Commonwealth and Milligan are the teams to beat in the chase for the 2025 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Men's Soccer championship, according to the AAC Coaches' Preseason Poll released on Thursday.

The poll was voted on by the men's soccer coaches of the AAC.

Union Commonwealth and Milligan each received five first-place votes and amassed 146 points to tie for the top spot. Union Commonwealth claimed the 2024 regular-season crown by going 11-0-1 in league play. Milligan was undefeated in conference action last season but had to settle for second with a 9-0-3 league mark.

Bryan, which won the AAC Tournament last year, garnered two first-place votes in collecting 132 points to land third. Truett McConnell (113 points) and Columbia International (104 points) round out the top five.

Eight teams will advance to the AAC Tournament, which begins on Oct. 31 with the championship match currently set for Nov. 8.

Here is the complete poll:

2025 AAC Men's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) - Total Voting Points
T1. Union Commonwealth (5) - 146
T1. Milligan (5) - 146
3. Bryan (2) - 132
4. Truett McConnell - 113
5. Columbia International - 104
6. Tennessee Wesleyan - 94
T7. Pikeville - 68
T7. Reinhardt - 68
9. Johnson - 63
10. Montreat - 60
11. Spartanburg Methodist - 50
12. Columbia - 35
13. Bluefield - 13