BUIES CREEK, N.C. –Campbell has been chosen second in the 2021 Big South Conference men's soccer preseason poll in voting by league head coaches, while Camel senior Franck Momo has been named pre-season defensive player of the year.
 
Campbell, which finished the 2020-21 campaign with an 8-2-2 overall record, 6-1-1 in the league, totaled 73 points and one first-place vote.  High Point, which won the 2020-21 Big South regular season and tournament titles, topped the poll with eight first-place votes and 80 points.  USC Upstate (53) was third, followed by Gardner-Webb (45), UNC Asheville (42), Presbyterian (41), Radford (32), Longwood (24) and Winthrop (15).
 
"The preseason poll is usually based on the past season's performance and returning players," said seventh year Campbell head coach Dustin Fonder.  "High Point had a great season and returns the entire team.  So it makes sense that they are favored. However, as these polls are mainly for fan interaction, the real standings will be sorted out on the field this fall."
 
Momo was named the Big South defensive player of the year and to the All-South region first team during the 2020-21 spring season.  A two-time, first-team all-conference choice, he finished 10th among Big South leaders in points (9) after hitting career highs in goals (3).  He scored in wins over Winthrop and Presbyterian and provided assists against Winthrop, Upstate and Presbyterian.  He helped lead the team to a 14-1-1 record in Big South regular season play over the last two seasons.
 
"We are excited for Franck to receive this preseason accolade," said Fonder.  "However, he will not let individual honors overshadow his main goal of team success.  He is hungry and humble and wants to lead us to unprecedented heights during his senior campaign."
 
Fonder returns seven starters, including four All-South region performers, from the 2020-21 squad.  In addition to Momo, winger Jalen James, left back Moses Mensah and midfielder Sami Charaf Amal were chosen to the All-South teams.
 
Four other Camels who earned Big South honors – George Bediko (2nd team), Bissafi Dotte (honorable mention), Diego Konincks (1st team) and Tyler Young (all-freshman) – also return.
 
Campbell, which won back-to-back Big South titles in 2018 and 2019, ended the 2020-21 season ranked fifth nationally in points (7.75) and goals (2.58) per game, while rating seventh in assists (2.58) and 19th in won-lost percentage (.750).
 
Campbell opens the 2021 season Aug. 26 at UNC Greensboro before hosting Davidson Aug. 29.
 
The top six teams in the final conference standings will advance to the Big South Men's Soccer Championship, which will be hosted by the higher seeded team throughout.  The champion receives the Big South's automatic bid to the NCAA College Cup.
 
Big South Conference Men's Soccer
2021 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
MD Myers, High Point, Jr., F
 
2021 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Franck Momo, Campbell, Sr., D
 
2021 Big South Men's Soccer Preseason Poll (first place votes in parenthesis): 1. High Point (8) 80 points, 2. Campbell (1) 73, 3. USC Upstate 53, 4. Gardner-Webb 45, 5. UNC Asheville 42, 6. Presbyterian 41, 7. Radford 32, 8. Longwood 24, 9. Winthrop 15.