Seven Bulldogs Named to Big South Conference Top Returners Watch List, Asheville Picked Fourth in Preseason Coaches' Poll

FULL TOP RETURNERS WATCH LIST RELEASE

FULL PRESEASON COACHES POLL RELEASE

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Seven Bulldogs have been named to the Big South Conference Top Returners Watch List, while UNC Asheville Men's Soccer was selected fourth in the preseason coaches' poll.

Senior Aysa Hamid was named amongst the forwards while fifth-year Edvin Grolimund, sophomore Charlie Wood, senior Louis Beckett and junior Jack Steel were named amongst the midfielders. Fifth-year Benian Yao and senior Viðar Ragnarsson were also listed among the defenders.

Hamid appeared in 14 matches making seven starts as a junior. He tallied three goals for six points. Hamid scored goals against Stetson (Aug. 23), the game-winner at Presbyterian (Oct. 22) and at USC Upstate (Nov. 2). He also totaled 25 shots with 11 on target. Hamid also totaled 670 minutes including a season-high 65 at High Point (Sept. 20).

Grolimund played and started in all 15 matches as a senior. He tallied one goal and four assists for six points on the season. Grolimund scored at Longwood (Oct. 26) while notching assists against Stetson (Aug. 23), VMI (Sept. 1), at Presbyterian (Sept. 22) and at Gardner-Webb (Oct. 29). He played all 90 minutes against Wofford (Sept. 10), at High Point (Sept. 20) and at Presbyterian. Grolimund was a Big South Conference All-Conference Second Team selection as well as a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection.

Wood appeared in 11 matches making eight starts as a freshman. He tallied one goal and one assist for three points on the season. He scored in the regular season finale at USC Upstate (Nov. 2), while tallying an assist at Davidson (Sept. 14). He totaled 10 shots with seven on target along with 536 minutes including a season-high 66 minutes in the season opener against Stetson (Aug. 23).

Beckett appeared in 15 matches making five starts in his first season in Asheville. He tallied two goals with four assists for eight points, scoring goals against Stetson (Aug. 23) and VMI (Sept. 1) while tallying assists against VMI, at Davidson (Sept. 14), at High Point (Sept. 20) and at Longwood (Oct. 26). He played a season-high 65 minutes at Bellarmine (Sept. 7).

Steel appeared in six matches as a sophomore, tallying two shots at USC Upstate (Nov. 2). He totaled 151 minutes including a season-high 45 minutes against VMI (Sept. 1).

Yao appeared in all 15 matches as a senior making 11 starts. He tallied two goals from the back line for four points on the year, scoring the game-winner at Davidson (Sept. 14) and also scoring at Longwood (Oct. 26). He played all 90 minutes five times and was instrumental to a Division I era program record six shutouts last season. He was a Big South Conference All-Conference Second Team selection as well as a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection.

Ragnarsson appeared in 14 matches making 13 starts as a junior. He totaled four shots with two on target along with 932 minutes on the back line including playing all 90 minutes at Bellarmine (Sept. 7), against Wofford (Sept. 10), at Winthrop (Oct. 12) and at Presbyterian (Oct. 22). He was instrumental in a Division I era program record six shutouts this season.

Defending champion High Point claimed the top spot in the poll with 62 points and six first-place votes, while 2024 league runner-up Gardner-Webb was tabbed second with 55 points and two first-place votes. Longwood was picked third with 41 points, followed by UNC Asheville with 35 points. USC Upstate was tabbed fifth with 33 points, while Presbyterian was picked sixth with 29 points. Winthrop (22 points) and Radford (11 points) rounded out the poll.

The Bulldogs open the 2025 regular season next Thursday (Aug. 21) against Howard. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. from Greenwood Field, with video and live stats available at www.uncabulldogs.com.

University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics

Seven Bulldogs Named to Big South Conference Top Returners Watch List, Asheville Picked Fourth in Preseason Coaches' Poll

Players Mentioned

Louis Beckett

Edvin Grolimund

Aysa Hamid

Jack Steel

Charlie Wood

Benian Yao

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