Forest, Va. -- For the third consecutive season, the University of Lynchburg men's soccer team was selected first in the 2026 Old Dominion Athletic Conference preseason poll, voted on by the conference's head coaches prior to the start of the year's campaign.

The Hornets were tabbed with 121 points and 11 first-place votes. Washington and Lee trailed just behind Lynchburg in the rankings with 111 points and one first-place selection. Hampden-Sydney rounded out the top three and was the only other team with triple-digit points at 101. Bridgewater placed fourth with 84 points while Batten was selected fifth with 79 points.

The reigning ODAC champion Lynchburg men's soccer team finished last season with one of the best records in program history at 19-2-2. The number of wins achieved by the 2025 squad was the second-most in program history, just behind the national runner-up 2010 squad by one triumph. Last year's Hornets produced the highest offensive numbers in school history with 66 goals and 177 points.

Although the Hornets lose three All-Americans from last season: Benjamin Velasquez, Thomas Viscuso, and Keaton Napior, Lynchburg returns its top four goal scorers from 2025: Sean DeLorenzo, Chris Wiley, Chris Bovo, and William Casey. The 2025 ODAC Rookie of the Year, Matthew Viscuso, remains on the squad for this upcoming season. 

To view the complete schedule for the 2026 Lynchburg men's soccer team, click here.

2026 ODAC MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
1. University of Lynchburg (11) -- 121 pts.
2. Washington and Lee University (1) -- 111 pts.
3. Hampden-Sydney College -- 101 pts.
4. Bridgewater College -- 84 pts.
5. Batten University -- 79 pts.
6. Randolph-Macon College -- 61 pts.
7. Roanoke College -- 57 pts.
8. Shenandoah University -- 56 pts.
9. Randolph College -- 48 pts.
10. EMU -- 41 pts.
11. Guilford College -- 18 pts.
12. Averett University -- 15 pts.

Visit Lynchburg athletics' home online, LynchburgSports.com, anytime for up-to-date news on all Hornets sports and coverage from the Lynchburg Hornets Sports Network.

Sign up here to receive Lynchburg Sports news in your email inbox.

Give Lynchburg Sports a like on Facebook, and follow Lynchburg Athletics on Instagram and X.