2020 Conference USA men's soccer season explained

Color:
  1. 1B3A68
Color Text:
  1. FFFFFF
League:NCAA Division I
Sport:Soccer
Pixels:200px
Duration:Fall season: September 17  - October 30, 2020
Spring season: February 3  - April 17, 2021
No Of Teams:8
Season:Regular Season
Season Champs:Marshall
Second Place:Charlotte
Mvp:Vitor Dias (Marshall)
Mvp Link:Conference USA Men's Soccer Player of the Year
Draft:2021 MLS SuperDraft
Draft Link:2021 MLS SuperDraft
Top Pick:Aimé Mabika
Picked By:Inter Miami CF, 26th overall
Seasonslistnames:C-USA men's soccer
Prevseason Link:2019 Conference USA men's soccer season
Prevseason Year:2019
Nextseason Link:2021 Conference USA men's soccer season
Nextseason Year:2021

The 2020 Conference USA men's soccer season is the 26th season of men's varsity soccer in the conference. The season was slated to begin on August 29, 2020 and conclude on November 14, 2020. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the season was postponed to begin on February 3, 2021, and conclude on April 17, 2021.

Despite the delay, Kentucky, South Carolina, and UAB will be playing competitive fixtures during the fall season.

Due to the pandemic, the regular season champion earned the league's automatic bid.

Marshall, who won the conference, won the national title game 1–0 in overtime over Indiana. This was not only Marshall's first men's soccer title, but was also the first national title in a team sport won by a Conference USA member while affiliated with the league.[1]

Background

Previous season

See main article: 2019 Conference USA men's soccer season. The 2019 season saw Marshall win both the Conference USA regular season and tournament, the first time in program history. Marshall, Charlotte, and Kentucky earned berths into the 2019 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament. Charlotte and Kentucky were eliminated in the Second Round, while Marshall beat in-state rival, West Virginia to reach the Sweet Sixteen where they fell to the University of Washington.

Charlotte goalkeeper, Elliot Panicco earned the Senior CLASS Award.

Head coaches

TeamHead coachPrevious jobYears at schoolOverall recordRecord at schoolC-USA recordNCAA
Tournaments[2] 		NCAA
College Cups		NCAA
Titles
CharlotteCharlotte (asst.) 9 7 0 0
FIUOrlando City SC (scout) 4 1 0 0
Florida AtlanticSouth Carolina (asst.) 4 0 0 0
Kentucky9 11 0 0
Marshall4 1 0 0
Old DominionNorth Carolina (asst.) 24 14 0 0
South Carolina42 22 3 0
UABVirginia Tech (asst.) 2 0 0 0

Preseason

Preseason poll

The preseason poll was released on January 27, 2021.[3]

Team Ranking
1 Marshall
2 Kentucky
3 Charlotte
4 FIU
5 Florida Atlantic
6 South Carolina
7 UAB
8 Old Dominion

Preseason national rankings

The preseason national rankings were to be announced in August 2020, but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Only CollegeSoccerNews.com released a fall preseason poll.

United
Soccer		CSNSoccer
America		TopDrawer
Soccer
style= width=75Charlotte ————
style= width=75FIU ————
style= width=75Florida Atlantic ————
style= width=75Kentucky ————
style= width=75Marshall ————
style= width=75Old Dominion ————
style= width=75South Carolina ————
style= width=75UAB ————

Preseason All-Conference teams

HonorRecipient
valign=middle Preseason Offensive Player of the YearMilo Yosef, Marshall
valign=middle Preseason Defensive Player of the YearPatrick Hogan, Charlotte
Preseason All-AAC Team
2020 C-USA Men's Soccer Preseason Team
First Team
  • Joe Brito – Charlotte
  • Patrick Hogan – Charlotte
  • Luke Johnson – Charlotte
  • Alessandro Campoy – FIU
  • Alonso Coello Camarero – Florida Atlantic
  • Ivan Mykhailenko – Florida Atlantic
  • Enrique Facusse – Kentucky
  • Marcel Meinzer – Kentucky
  • Pedro Dolabella – Marshall
  • Jan-Erik Leinhos – Marshall
  • Milo Yosef – Marshall

Fall 2020 season

Matches

Kentucky, South Carolina, and UAB played competitive matches during the fall.

Index to colors and formatting
CUSA member won
CUSA member lost
CUSA member tied
CUSA teams in bold
All times Eastern time.
Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance
September 17 7:00 p.m. Kentucky L 0–1 1
September 192:00 p.m.UABCentral ArkansasBill Stephens Stadium • Conway, ARW 3–2105
September 197:00 p.m.Georgia SouthernSouth CarolinaEugene Stone Stadium • Columbia, SCW 2–0100
September 217:00 p.m.DukeKentuckyBell Soccer Complex • Lexington, KYW 4–295
September 247:00 p.m.Georgia StateSouth CarolinaEugene Stone Stadium • Columbia, SCL 1–3320
September 266:00 p.m.UABGeorgia SouthernEagle Field • Statesboro, GAL 2–3266
September 287:30 p.m.KentuckyLouisvilleBell Soccer Complex • Lexington, KYW 3–1115
September 304:00 p.m.UABGeorgia StateGSU Soccer Field • Atlanta, GAL 0–4214
October 17:00 p.m.ClemsonSouth CarolinaEugene Stone Stadium • Columbia, SCL 0–3460
October 23:00 p.m.No. 4 KentuckyCentral ArkansasBell Soccer Complex • Lexington, KYW 2–1 (OT)83
October 55:00 p.m.UABNo. 3 ClemsonRiggs Field • Clemson, SCL 0–2748
October 106:00 p.m.South CarolinaMercerBetts Stadium • Macon, GAW 1–0116
October 106:00 p.m.UABNo. 1 Wake ForestSpry Stadium • Winston-Salem, NCL 0–30
October 137:00 p.m.Georgia StateUABBBVA Field • Birmingham, ALL 1–4195
October 147:00 p.m.MercerNo. 4 KentuckyBell Soccer Complex • Lexington, KYW 3–197
October 177:00 p.m.UABKentuckyBell Soccer Complex • Lexington, KYUK 2–0144
October 207:00 p.m.Georgia SouthernUABBBVA Field • Birmingham, ALCancelled
October 247:00 p.m.UABSouth CarolinaEugene Stone Stadium • Columbia, SCCancelled
October 283:00 p.m.Central ArkansasUABBBVA Field • Birmingham, ALCancelled
October 307:00 p.m.KentuckyDukeBell Soccer Complex • Lexington, KYCancelled

Rankings

United Soccer Coaches

During the fall 2020 season, United Soccer Coaches ran a Top 5 poll for the programs playing in fall.

  Improvement in ranking
 Drop in ranking
RVReceived votes but were not ranked in Top 5
NVNo votes received
 Wk
1 		Wk
2 		Wk
3 		Wk
4 		Wk
5 		Wk
6 		Wk
7 		Wk
8 		Wk
9 		Wk
10
KentuckyNV444444444
South CarolinaNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNV
UABNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNVNV

Awards and honors

DatePlayerPositionSchoolHonorRef.
FWSouth CarolinaTopDrawer Soccer Team of the Week[4]
MFUAB
DFSouth Carolina

Spring 2021 season

Matches

Preseason exhibitions

Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance
January 23 5:00 p.m. FIU W 2–0 0
January 302:00 p.m.LibertyCharlotteTransamerica FieldCharlotte, NCT 1–10
January 30 5:00 p.m. FIU W 2–0 0
January 305:00 p.m.UABLipscombLipscomb Soccer ComplexNashville, TNT 1-187
February 26:00 p.m.CharlotteDavidsonAlumni Soccer StadiumDavidson, NCCancelled
February 37:00 p.m.LanderSouth CarolinaStone StadiumColumbia, SCL 0–10
February 53:00 p.m.BellarmineKentuckyBell Soccer Complex • Lexington, KYCancelled
February 67:00 p.m.MontevalloUABBBVA Field • Birmingham, ALW 1-5196

Week 1 (Feb. 3 – Feb. 7)

Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance
February 35:00 p.m.VCUMarshallHoops Family Field Huntington, WVPostponed
February 3 6:00 p.m. Florida Atlantic W 1–0120
February 62:00 p.m.Old DominionVCUSports Backers Stadium • Richmond, VAPostponed
February 7 2:00 p.m. FIU Postponed
February 75:00 p.m.North FloridaSouth CarolinaStone StadiumColumbia, SC
February 93:00 p.m.XavierKentuckyBell Soccer Complex • Lexington, KYW 1-2 56

Week 2 (Feb. 8 – Feb. 14)

Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance
February 126:00 p.m.CharlotteDukeKoskinen StadiumDurham, NC
February 131:00 p.m.Ohio ValleyMarshallHoops Family Field Huntington, WV
February 133:00 p.m.Bowling GreenKentuckyBell Soccer Complex • Lexington, KY
February 142:00 p.m.CampbellOld DominionODU Soccer ComplexNorfolk, VA
February 142:00 p.m.WinthropSouth CarolinaStone StadiumColumbia, SC

Week 3 (Feb. 15 – Feb. 21)

Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance
February 162:00 p.m.LipscombMarshallHoops Family Field Huntington, WV
February 167:00 p.m.Central ArkansasUABBBVA FieldBirmingham, AL
February 177:00 p.m.Florida Gulf CoastFIUFIU Soccer StadiumMiami, FL
February 17 7:00 p.m. South Carolina Stone StadiumColumbia, SC
February 192:00 p.m.KentuckyDukeKoskinen StadiumDurham, NC
February 19 3:00 p.m. Florida Atlantic Jacksonville Southern Oak StadiumJacksonville, FL
February 194:00 p.m.West Virginia TechMarshallHoops Family Field Huntington, WV
February 202:00 p.m.West VirginiaCharlotteTransamerica FieldCharlotte, NC
February 202:00 p.m.George MasonOld DominionODU Soccer ComplexNorfolk, VA
February 206:00 p.m.UABNC StateDail Soccer FieldRaleigh, NC
February 207:00 p.m.FIUNorth FloridaHodges StadiumJacksonville, FL
February 216:00 p.m.South CarolinaFurmanStone StadiumGreenville, SC

Week 4 (Feb. 22 – Feb. 28)

Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance
February 232:00 p.m.ETSUMarshallHoops Family Field Huntington, WV
February 24 7:00 p.m. Florida Atlantic Florida Gulf Coast
February 254:00 p.m.AkronKentuckyBell Soccer Complex • Lexington, KY
February 272:00 p.m.WoffordSouth CarolinaStone StadiumColumbia, SC
February 273:00 p.m.Bowling GreenMarshallHoops Family Field Huntington, WV
February 281:00 p.m.Old DominionWilliam & MaryAlbert–Daly FieldWilliamsburg, VA

Week 5 (Mar. 1 – Mar. 7)

Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance
March 23:00 p.m.MarshallAkronFirstEnergy Stadium Akron, OH
March 6TBACharlotteKentuckyBell Soccer ComplexLexington, KY
March 62:00 p.m.Florida AtlanticFIUFIU Soccer StadiumMiami, FL
March 62:00 p.m.MarshallSouth CarolinaStone StadiumColumbia, SC
March 63:00 p.m.Old DominionUABBBVA FieldBirmingham, AL

Week 6 (Mar. 8 – Mar. 14)

Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance
March 1312:00 p.m.FIUMarshallHoops Family Field Huntington, WV
March 132:00 p.m.UABCharlotteTransamerica FieldCharlotte, NC
March 132:00 p.m.KentuckyFlorida AtlanticFAU Soccer StadiumBoca Raton, FL
March 142:00 p.m.South CarolinaOld DominionODU Soccer ComplexNorfolk, VA

Week 7 (Mar. 15 – Mar. 21)

Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance
March 187:00 p.m.MarshallKentuckyBell Soccer ComplexLexington, KY
March 201:00 p.m.UABFIUFIU Soccer StadiumMiami, FL
March 202:00 p.m.CharlotteSouth CarolinaStone StadiumColumbia, SC
March 2110:00 a.m.Florida AtlanticOld DominionODU Soccer ComplexNorfolk, VA

Week 8 (Mar. 22 – Mar. 28)

Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance
March 243:00 p.m.MarshallWest VirginiaDick Dlesk StadiumMorgantown, WV
March 272:00 p.m.FIUCharlotteTransamerica FieldCharlotte, NC
March 272:00 p.m.South CarolinaFlorida AtlanticFAU Soccer StadiumBoca Raton, FL
March 272:00 p.m.Old DominionMarshallHoops Family Field Huntington, WV
March 273:00 p.m.KentuckyUABBBVA FieldBirmingham, AL

Week 9 (Mar. 29 – Apr. 4)

Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance
March 30TBACharlotteCoastal CarolinaCCU Soccer Stadium Conway, SC
April 32:00 p.m.Florida AtlanticMarshallHoops Family Field Huntington, WV
April 32:00 p.m.UABSouth CarolinaStone StadiumColumbia, SC
April 36:00 p.m.KentuckyFIUFIU Soccer StadiumMiami, FL
April 42:00 p.m.CharlotteOld DominionODU Soccer ComplexNorfolk, VA

Week 10 (Apr. 5 – Apr. 11)

Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance
April 1011:00 a.m.Old DominionKentuckyBell Soccer ComplexLexington, KY
April 1012:00 p.m.South CarolinaFIUFIU Soccer StadiumMiami, FL
April 102:00 p.m.Florida AtlanticCharlotteTransamerica FieldCharlotte, NC
April 102:00 p.m.MarshallUABBBVA FieldBirmingham, AL

Week 11 (Apr. 12 – Apr. 18)

Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance
April 172:00 p.m.UABFlorida AtlanticFAU Soccer Stadium Boca Raton, FL
April 172:00 p.m.CharlotteMarshallHoops Family Field Huntington, WV
April 172:00 p.m.FIUOld DominionODU Soccer ComplexNorfolk, VA
April 172:00 p.m.KentuckySouth CarolinaStone StadiumColumbia, SC

Postseason

NCAA Tournament

See main article: 2020 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament.

SeedSchool1st Round2nd Round3rd RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsChampionship
Marshallbgcolor=#ddd W 2–1 (OT) vs. Fordham – (Wilson, NC) T 1–1 (7–6 PKs) vs. #1 Clemson – (Cary, NC) W 1–0 vs. #8 Georgetown – (Cary, NC) W 1–0 vs. North Carolina – (Cary, NC) W 1–0 (OT) vs. #3 Indiana – (Cary, NC)
Kentuckybgcolor=#ddd W 2–0 vs. New Hampshire – (Browns Summit NC) L 1–2 vs. #5 Wake Forest – (Cary, NC)
Charlottebgcolor=#ddd T 1–1 (1–4 PKs) vs. North Carolina – (Cary, NC)
W–L (%): Total:

MLS SuperDraft

The MLS SuperDraft was held on January 21, 2021 and was held virtually through its website.[5]

Total picks by school

TeamRound 1Round 2Round 3Comp.Total
Charlotte00000
FIU00000
Florida Atlantic00000
Kentucky10001
Marshall00101
Old Dominion00000
South Carolina00000
UAB00000
Total10102

List of selections

Round Pick # MLS team Player Position College Ref
1 26 [6]
3 77 [7]

Notes and References

  1. National Champions! Marshall Beats Indiana 1-0 In OT For College Cup Title . Conference USA . May 17, 2021 . May 19, 2021.
  2. Web site: NCAA Men's Soccer Championship Brackets. National Collegiate Athletic Association. NCAA.org. July 17, 2017.
  3. Web site: Spring 2021 C-USA Preseason Team & Poll Announced . Conference USA . January 27, 2021 . January 26, 2021.
  4. Web site: Men's Team of the Week: September 22. . September 23, 2020. September 22, 2020.
  5. Web site: 2021 SuperDraft Tracker . MLSSoccer.com . January 23, 2021 . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122133124/https://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/2021/tracker . dead .
  6. Web site: Geoghegan . Zack . UK Soccer star Aimé Mabika selected by Inter Miami CF in first round of MLS SuperDraft . Kentucky Sports Radio . January 25, 2021 . January 21, 2021.
  7. Web site: Goodwin . Jordan . Sporting Kansas City adds defender, winger in 2021 MLS SuperDraft . . January 25, 2021 . January 21, 2021 . January 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210125131033/https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/sporting-kc/article248673650.html . dead .

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