PRINCETON, N.J. -- Dartmouth was picked to defend its Ivy League title in the 2018 Ivy League Men’s Soccer Preseason Media Poll.
The Big Green, which has earned at least a share of the Ivy League title for four straight years, earned 11-of-16 first-place votes to top the inaugural edition, narrowly edging 2016 Ivy League Co-Champion Columbia. The Lions took five first-place votes to accumulate 117 total points. The meeting of the preseason favorites on Friday, Oct. 19 at Columbia will be
broadcast live on ESPNU, one of four NCAA men's soccer games to appear on ESPN's linear networks.
Brown is predicted in the third spot rounded out by Princeton, Penn, Yale, Cornell and Harvard.
The 2018 Ivy League Men’s soccer kicks off Friday, August 31, with a full slate of non-conference action, including four games against NCAA Tournament teams. In 2017, two Ivy League teams – Dartmouth and Columbia advanced to the second round of the
NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010. The Big Green will open the 2018 campaign against defending national champion Indiana.
Part of the League's
new comprehensive agreement with ESPN, all Ivy League home men's soccer games will be available through a variety of ESPN platforms.
Entering the 2018 campaign ranked No. 22 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, Dartmouth returns a wealth of experience including five All-Ivy selections. Despite a new coaching staff in Hanover, Dartmouth will be led by reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year
Dawson McCartney and first-team All-Ivy honor
Eduvie Ikoba.
Coming off of a 12-3-3 season that included a win in the NCAA Tournament last year, the Columbia men return a bevy of talent, including two all-regional players, and five All-Ivy League honorees. The Lions will look to 2016 Ivy League Rookie of the Year
Vana Markarian and first-team All-Ivy selection
John Denis on the offensive side of the ball, while first-team honoree
Dylan Castanheira returns for his senior year in the net.
2018 Ivy League Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll
- Dartmouth (11) 123 points
- Columbia (5) 117 points
- Brown 80 points
- Princeton 75 points
- Penn 52 points
- Yale 51 points
- Cornell 45 points
- Harvard 36 points