Greenville, S.C. -- Furman winger Josiah Baker and center back Kyle McLagan were named to the Preseason All-Southern Conference Team, and the Paladins were tabbed to finish fourth in the league standings in voting by the SoCon's head coaches, it was announced on Thursday afternoon.

Baker, a native of Lawrenceville, Ga., netted three goals and added three assists in 18 matches a year ago after tallying two goals and an assist as a freshman in 2015. The junior found the back of the net in the first half of Sunday's exhibition match versus second-ranked Wake Forest to lift the Paladins to a 1-0 victory.

McLagan, a first team All-SoCon choice in 2016, has played in 54 matches and made 44 starts while anchoring the Paladin defense over the past three seasons. The senior from Lee's Summit, Mo., helped lead Furman to six shutouts last season.

ETSU garnered four of a possible five first place votes and was picked to repeat as SoCon champions. Mercer, who topped the Bucs on penalty kicks in the 2016 SoCon Tournament finals, picked up two first place votes and was tabbed to finish second with UNCG, Furman, Wofford and VMI rounding out the poll.

The Paladins, who open the regular season in the Aaron Olitsky Memorial Classic in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., August 25-27, conclude exhibition play on Thursday afternoon with a 4 p.m. contest at Winthrop. The Paladins will face College of Charleston in the regular season opener on the August 25 and cap play in the Aaron Olitsky Memorial Classic versus Georgia Southern on August 27.

The 2017 home opener at Stone Soccer Stadium is set for September 12, when the Paladins play host to the UNCA Bulldogs.

Tickets for every home Furman match are $5 and are available at the Stone Stadium gate beginning an hour prior to kickoff.  Log onto www.FurmanPaladins.com for $20 season tickets (20 game vouchers).

2017 Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. ETSU (4)                                         24
2. Mercer (2)                                        22
3. UNCG                                             15
4. Furman                                            13
5. Wofford                                          11
6. VMI                                                  5
 
() denotes first-place votes
 
2017  Men's Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team
F       Will Bagrou, Mercer
F       Fletcher Ekern, ETSU
F       Cameron Woodfin, ETSU
MF    Leeroy Maguraushe, UNCG
MF    Serge Gomis, ETSU
MF    Josiah Baker, Furman
MF    Kobe Perez, Mercer
D       Conner Antley, Mercer
D       Kyle McLagan, Furman
D       Joe Pickering, ETSU
GK    Jonny Sutherland, ETSU




Jordan Caskey, Furman Sports Information