Big Ten men’s soccer 2023 preseason rankings and Players to Watch revealed

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Maryland has been selected to win the 2023 Big Ten Conference Men’s Soccer championship, according to a poll of the league’s head coaches.

Ranked No. 14 in the Unites Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll, the Terrapins were picked first in the 2023 Big Ten Preseason Poll by the conference’s nine coaches. 2022 NCAA runner-up Indiana was chosen second, with Ohio State third.

Fresh off the program’s first Big Ten Tournament title, Rutgers claimed the fourth spot, with Penn State rounding out the top five.

The conference also unveiled the 2023 Big Ten Players to Watch list on Monday, as selected by the league’s coaches. Included in the list are five student-athletes who earned all-conference recognition in 2022. Among last season’s honorees are 2022 Midfielder of the Year Laurence Wooten from Ohio State and Co-Rookie of the Year from Michigan State, Jonathan Stout.

The 2023 Big Ten Men’s Soccer season kicks off this weekend, as all nine teams will take the pitch on Thursday. All nine will also return to action for a second contest between Sunday and Tuesday.

The complete 2022 Big Ten Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll and Players to Watch List can be found below:

2023 Big Ten Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll

1.    Maryland
2.    Indiana
3.    Ohio State
4.    Rutgers
5.    Penn State
6.    Wisconsin
7.    Michigan State
8.    Northwestern
9.    Michigan

2023 Big Ten Players to Watch

• Patrick McDonald, Jr., M, Indiana
• Collins Oduro, Fr., F, Indiana
• Sam Sarver, Jr., F, Indiana
• Stefan Copetti, Sr., F, Maryland
• Alex Nitzl, Sr., D/M, Maryland
• Bjarne Thiesen, Gr., D, Maryland
• Bryce Blevins, Sr., M, Michigan
• Jason Bucknor, Jr., D, Michigan
• Louis Rogers, Sr., M, Michigan
• Ugo Achara, Gr., F, Northwestern
• Jason Gajadhar, So., M, Northwestern
• Justin Weiss, Sr., F, Northwestern
• Greyson Mercer, Sr., F, Michigan State
• Jake Spadafora, So., F, Michigan State
• Jonathan Stout, So., M, Michigan State
• Anthony Samways, Jr., D, Ohio State
• Deylen Vellios, Sr., D, Ohio State
• Laurence Wootton, Sr., M, Ohio State
• Femi Awodesu, Sr., D, Penn State
• Peter Mangione, Sr., M, Penn State
• Kris Shakes, Gr., GK, Penn State
• Matthew Acosta, Jr., M, Rutgers
• Jason Bouregy, Sr., F, Rutgers
• Joey Zalinsky, Jr., D, Rutgers
• Tim Bielic, Gr., M, Wisconsin
• Nate Crockford, Jr., GK, Wisconsin
• Maxwell Keenan, Sr., M, Wisconsin