ROCK HILL, S.C. - With the start of the 2014 season quickly approaching, Anderson University men's soccer placed three on the annual South Atlantic Conference All-Conference Teams, as juniors Lars Zimmerman and Andre Carle were picked to the first team, while sophomore Alex Delpy was selected to the second team, announced by the league office on Tuesday.

To go along with the preseason teams, the SAC also announced its annual preseason poll, which slotted AU fifth with 77 points.

After seeing Zimmerman play up front for the Trojans during the 2012 season, the club's captain was moved to the backline where his goal total decreased, but his contribution to the team remained. Despite being installed into the last line of defense, the Malente, Germany native scored twice during the 2013 season, while handing out an assist.

For his efforts a year ago, Zimmerman, who was named to the Preseason All-SAC First Team for the second straight season, was named to the Capital One Academic All-District Team, while also being picked to the Postseason All-SAC First Team, the Daktronics All-Southeast Region First Team, the National Soccer Coaches of America Association (NSCAA) All-Southeast Second Team and was a member of the SAC All-Tournament team after leading the Trojans to their fourth straight appearance in the SAC Tournament championship.

Joining Zimmerman on the first team was the only other Trojan to receive postseason honors a season ago in Carle. The forward paced the AU attack with 12 goals in 2013, while notching a team-high 27 shots on goal. The Normanhurst, Australia native scored four game-winning goals in his first season with the Black and Gold and was named to the Postseason All-SAC Second Team while matching Zimmerman's NSCAA honor with a spot on the third team.

Delpy earns his first conference honor after starting in all 22 matches along the backline a season ago. The Pocking, Germany native handed out three assists in 2013, while tying for eighth on the squad with seven shots on goal. Delpy was a main contributor to Anderson's six shutouts last year, as the Trojans outshot their opponents 304-273 (+31).

In the preseason poll, Carson-Newman, the national runner-up from a season ago, was picked to win the conference with 114 total points and five first-place votes. Wingate, which finished second, closely followed with 111 points and six first-place votes. Queens captured the final first-place vote was slotted third with 105 points, slotting the Royals third.

Lincoln Memorial finished just ahead of the Trojans with 86 points, while Anderson beat out Coker for fifth-place, as the Cobras landed sixth with 60 points. Lenoir-Rhyne grabbed 58 points and finished seventh, while Mars Hill came in eighth with 56 points.

Catawba (48 points), Tusculum (42), Newberry (19) and Brevard (16) rounded out this season's poll, as the bottom-four teams in the final standings would miss this year's conference tournament.

Anderson begins its regular season in Florida when it travels to Rollins on Sept. 4 and Flagler on Sept. 6. After beginning SAC play on Sept. 13 at Catawba, the Trojans open their home schedule on Sept. 17 when they hosts archrival Erskine. That match at Trojan Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m.

SAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Carson-Newman (5) 114
2. Wingate (6) 111
3. Queens (1) 105
4. Lincoln Memorial 86
5. Anderson 77
6. Coker 60
7. Lenoir-Rhyne 58
8. Mars Hill 56
9. Catawba 48
10. Tusculum 42
11. Newberry 19
12. Brevard 16

2014 SAC Men's Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team

First Team
F - Peron Da Silva, Wingate
F - Ross Frame, Carson-Newman
F - Andre Carle, Anderson
F - Ben Jones, Lenoir-Rhyne
M - Shaun Gadsby, Wingate
M - Sindre Welo, Carson-Newman
M - Liam Gillsphey, Wingate
M - Tony Quiroz, Coker
D - Lars Zimmerman, Anderson
D - Fernando Bedoya, Coker
D - Victor Tozelli, Wingate
D - Gregorio Pestana, Queens
GK - Montrell Morgan, Queens

Second Team
F - Erik Suarez, Queens
F - Declan Stimson, Catawba
F - George Burne, Lincoln Memorial
F - Nico Noll, Carson-Newman
M - Yuri Passos, Lincoln Memorial
M - Leonardo Da Silva, Lincoln Memorial
M - Roberto Pimentel, Tusculum
M - Kenny Bonilla, Catawba
D - Tim Holland Lenoir-Rhyne
D - Rurik Pereira, Carson-Newman
D - Alex Delpy, Anderson
D - Duncan Foster, Carson-Newman
GK - Marcel Barwanietz, Lincoln Memorial