IRVING, Texas – Last year’s men’s soccer regular-season champion Charlotte has been selected by the league’s nine head coaches as the 2017 Conference USA preseason favorite. FIU junior forward Santiago Patino was voted the C-USA Preseason Offensive Player of the year, and Charlotte redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Elliot Panicco was selected as the C-USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
 
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Since re-joining C-USA in 2013, Charlotte has made four NCAA Tournament appearances, been two-time regular season champions, and won the 2013 C-USA Championship. Last season, the 49ers lost one conference game, giving them an .875 winning percentage in league play. Fresh off winning C-USA Freshman of the Year, Panicco is representing Charlotte on this year’s preseason squad. Last season, Panicco recorded a program-record 10 shutouts which ranked 13^th in the nation.
 
FIU has three players on this year’s preseason squad, with Patino leading the pack. In his sophomore season Patino was awarded C-USA All-Conference first team honors and appeared in 17 games with eight goals and one assist. Senior defender Paul Marie and sophomore midfielder Joris Ahlinvi join Patino on the 2017 preseason team, both making the 2016 C-USA All-Tournament Team last season. Marie appeared in 16 games, totaling 1,066 minutes for the season. Ahlinvi had 12 starts and scored 10 points for the year, making the C-USA All-Freshman Team.
 
The top seven teams at the conclusion of the regular season earn a spot in the 2017 Conference USA Championship, hosted by Old Dominion Nov. 8-12. The league’s 23^rd season kicks off Friday, Aug. 25.