Pittsburgh, Pa. – According to a poll of Atlantic 10 head coaches, the Duquesne University men's soccer team has been picked to finish eighth in the conference in 2024.
Selected as the 2024 preseason favorite is VCU, which earned five first-place votes. Saint Louis, with four first-place tallies, was picked second, followed by Dayton, Loyola Chicago and Fordham. The Flyers earned three first-place votes, while the Ramblers picked up a pair.
Massachusetts was picked to finish sixth, followed by Davidson and the Dukes. Rhode Island, George Mason, Saint Joseph's, George Washington, La Salle and St. Bonventure round out the poll.
In addition to Duquesne being slotted eighth in the 2024 preseason poll, senior forward
Maxi Hopfer earned preseason All-Atlantic 10 accolades at forward along with Alex Hughes of UMass and Denis Krioutchenkov of Davidson.
Hopfer, a native of Styria, Austria, battled injury during the 2023 season, appearing in six games, including two starts. During his last full campaign in 2022, Hopfer was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Second Team after compiling 14 points thanks to five goals and four assists.
In 49 career matches, including 45 starts, Hopfer has accrued 46 points thanks to 18 goals and 10 assists. He owns 174 shots, including 73 on goal, and has notched seven game-winning markers during his time on the Bluff. Hopfer enters the 2024 season ranked sixth all-time at Duquesne in game-winning goals, eighth in goals and ninth in points.
Led by
Chase Brooks, who enters his 12th year as head coach for the Dukes, Duquesne returns six starters from a 2023 squad that posted an overall record of 8-7-3 (.528), including a 4-2-2 (.625) mark in the Atlantic 10.
Duquesne opens its 2024 season Thursday, August 22, with a 7:00 p.m. match against Seton Hill at Rooney Field. Brooks has led the Dukes to 77 wins in his 11 seasons on the sidelines and is just one victory shy of the 100th of his career as a head coach.
2024 Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes)
1. VCU (5)
2. Saint Louis (4)
3. Dayton (3)
4. Loyola Chicago (2)
5. Fordham
6. Massachusetts
7. Davidson
8. Duquesne
9. Rhode Island
10. George Mason
11. Saint Joseph's
12. George Washington
13. La Salle
14. St. Bonaventure
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