Five Bulldogs Named Preseason All-Conference, Asheville Picked Second in 2024 Big South Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll

FULL BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE RELEASE

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Five Bulldog Men's Soccer players have been named Preseason All-Conference in the Big South Conference while UNC Asheville was picked second in the 2024 Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced by the league today (Wednesday, Aug. 14).

Charlie Farrar highlighted Asheville's preseason honors being named Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year, while Aysa Hamid, Brendan Herb, Conor Behan and Myles Edmondson were all named Preseason All-Conference.

Farrar played and started in 17 matches in 2023, posting a 10-4-3 record between the pipes with four shutouts. He ranked second in the Big South in goals against average (1.26), second in saves (69) and second in save percentage (.758). He was named Big South Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 30 after a career-high 10 saves in the victory over Winthrop (Oct. 28). Charlie was named First Team All-Conference, and he was also the first Bulldog in program history to earn Goalkeeper of the Year honors. He was also the first player in program history to earn All-Region honors, being named to the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Third Team.

This is Farrar's first career Preseason All-Conference honor. He is a native of Wakefield, U.K.

Hamid appeared in all 18 matches in his first season in Asheville, making 11 starts. He shared the team lead in goals (four) and was tied for second on the team in assists (four) for 12 total points. Hamid scored goals against Navy (Aug. 24), Presbyterian (Sept. 23), Radford (Oct. 14) and Winthrop (Oct. 28). He also tallied an assist against Evansville (Sept. 4) and ended the season on a three-game assist streak (USC Upstate Nov. 1, Winthrop Nov. 5, High Point Nov. 11). Hamid played a season-high 76 minutes in the Big South Conference Championship match against High Point (Nov. 11).

This is Hamid's first career Preseason All-Conference honor. He is a native of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Herb played and started in all 18 matches in 2023 for Asheville. He shared the team lead and was tied for ninth in goals with four, while leading both the team and conference with seven assists for 15 total points. He scored goals against Navy (Aug. 24), Presbyterian (Sept. 23), Gardner-Webb (Oct. 6) and USC Upstate (Nov. 1). Herb also tallied assists against Navy (Aug. 24), Queens (N.C.) (Sept. 1), Evansville (Sept. 4), Wofford (Sept. 12), ETSU (Sept. 19) and Radford (two, Oct. 14). He was named Big South Conference Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 5, 2023). He was named to the Big South Conference All-Conference First Team and also to the All-Academic Team.

This is Herb's first career Preseason All-Conference honor. He is a native of Corvallis, Ore.

Behan appeared in all 18 matches in 2023, making 15 starts. He finished the season tied for the team lead and tied for ninth in the Big South Conference in goals with four. Behan also finished second on the team and tied for fourth in the conference in assists with five. He totaled 13 points on the season, second on the team. Behan scored goals against Queens (N.C.) (Sept. 1), Radford (two, Oct. 14) and at Winthrop (Oct. 28). He also tallied assists against Navy (Aug. 24), at Queens (N.C.) (Sept. 1), VMI (Sept. 16), against USC Upstate (Nov. 1) and at High Point (Nov. 11). Behan was named the Big South Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 16). He was also named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week (Oct. 17). Behan was a First Team All-Conference selection in 2023.

This is Behan's first career Preseason All-Conference honor. He is a native of Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

Edmondson played and started in all 18 matches in 2023 for the Bulldogs. He tallied three assists on the season, recording helpers against VMI (Sept. 16), Gardner-Webb (Oct. 6) and Furman (Oct. 24). Edmondson was named Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 9. He was later named a Big South Conference First Team All-Conference selection.

This is Edmondson's first career Preseason All-Conference honor. He is a native of Oldham, Manchester, U.K.

The full Big South Conference preseason coaches' poll is listed below:

High Point (Seven First-Place Votes) – 62 points
UNC Asheville – 51 points
Gardner-Webb – 48 points
Presbyterian – 31 points
Winthrop – 30 points
Longwood – 30 points
USC Upstate (One First-Place Vote) – 28 points
Radford – 8 points

The Bulldogs begin their 2024 campaign on Friday, Aug. 23 at home against Stetson. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. from Greenwood Field, with video and live stats available at www.uncabulldogs.com.