ATLANTA, Ga. -- Covenant men's soccer was projected first in the CCS preseason poll for the fifth straight season, landing 25 points and five first-place votes, announced the conference on Monday.

The votes for the CCS preseason poll were submitted by the coaches of the six CCS men's soccer institutions.

The Scots look to get back to the top after falling in the CCS championship last season. In the 2025 regular season, they finished 8-5-5, but nearly ran the table in CCS play, going 5-1-0.

As 2026 approaches, a roster loaded with returners prepares to make another run behind head coach Scott Bosgraf, who enters his 10th season as head coach. Assisting him is Messiah soccer alum Cole Cristian in his first campaign on Lookout Mountain, and goalkeeping coach Will Hicks.

Headlining the returners is a strong eight-man senior class, including All-CCS First Team honorees Noah Jones and Jackson Bostrom, who are flanked by lineup mainstays Daniel Wallis, Jackson Hinson, and goalkeeper J.T. Gard. Eli Daniel and Collin Kitchin add experienced defense, while Tyler Johnson brings the scoring.

Six juniors also return to add to the upperclassmen, including leading goal scorer and All-CCS First Team honoree Jonathan Welsh and All-CCS First Team midfielder Henry Parker. Fellow juniors Ian Adams, Cooper Rumley, Lyndon Tucker, and Isaiah Harper look to add to the winning efforts.

Among the ten sophomores is All-CCS Second Team member Sean Freace, who helped lock down opposing scoring outfits last season. J.T. Tolson, Andrew Dillard, Sam Conrad, Josiah Crowder, Brian Burke, Carter Weekley, Henry Strawbridge, Joshua Romero, and Asa Mills look to continue their ascent as well.

Joining the returners are seven newcomers: juniors Sam Wilkey and Eliot Nichols and freshmen Daniel Weldon, Carlton McClure, Pablo Bedoya, Cooper O'Connor, and Cruz Jackson.

On the schedule, the regular season begins on the road at Roanoke tomorrow, followed by the home opener versus Johnson (Tenn.) on Saturday at 7 p.m., which begins a four-match homestand. CCS play begins on September 26 with a homecoming date with Huntingdon, and concludes at home against Asbury on October 24.

The CCS Tournament has been slated for October 31 and November 6-7 in Huntsville, Ala., hosted by the Merrimack Soccer Complex.

Behind the Scots were Belhaven, who landed just four points back of Covenant with 21 and one first-place vote.

CONNECT WITH THE SCOTS

Be sure to follow the Scots all season long on athletics.covenant.edu and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date scores, news and other information.