AMERICUS, Ga. -- The Georgia Southwestern men's soccer team was picked to finish eighth in the Peach Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll released Tuesday morning by the PBC.

GSW went 3-10-2, 0-6-1 in conference play last season as first-year head coach Eric Crawford is eyeing more wins for this upcoming season. Crawford inherited a team with only nine players and through several months of recruiting, he managed to bring in 20 new players; several of which are junior college transfers and two NCAA DI transfers to complete his squad. Being at the bottom of the pact isn't phasing Crawford at all. 

"It's where we're expected to be," Crawford stated. "Other people's opinion of us isn't going to change our goals for this year."

Steadily rebuilding, the team is now complete with a strong and talented recruiting class. He knows that he'll have a chance to win with his competitive players as the Hurricanes have their eyes set on making it to the conference tournament by any means necessary. 

"We just want to win and change the prospective of this program," Crawford said. "It's a long season ahead of us and everybody has to earn their ranking. We're not going to let this preseason poll affect us."

Crawford opens the season and will coach his first game on Sept. 5 against Brewton-Parker under the lights.  

Preseason Coaches Poll  

1. Young Harris (7) 49
2. Lander University (1) 41
3. North Georgia 32
4. Francis Marion 30
5. Clayton State 24
6. Flagler College 23
7. USC Aiken 18
8. Georgia Southwestern 7