University of North Carolina-Charlotte Athletics issued the following announcement on Aug. 12.
Following the start of preseason training on Tuesday morning, the 18th-ranked Charlotte men's soccer team will continue its prep for the 2021 season with a set of exhibition matches at Virginia Tech on Friday and at home against Winthrop next Saturday, Aug. 21.
Friday's match from Blacksburg is set to kickoff at 7 p.m. ET and the 49ers first appearance at Transamerica field next Saturday is also slated for a 7 p.m. ET start.
Admission for the Winthrop match is free to all fans looking to see Charlotte in action before the official start of the season.
KEY RETURNERS
The 49ers will be led this year by the return of veteran midfielder Joe Brito. The Bolton, Connecticut native is taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility provided by COVID-19. Brito will likely be the anchor in the Charlotte midfield throughout the 2021 campaign.
In the attacking third, seniors Preston Popp and Alex Willis will likely lead the 49er line. Popp, a second team All-Conference member led the 49ers with six goals and claimed the C-USA co-Golden Boot award after banging home five goals in conference action. Willis, a Spring first team All-Conference member, scored three goals and dished out a pair of assists in his first season in the Queen City.
In goal, senior Daniel Kuzemka has taken over the No. 1 shirt and will likely take over between the sticks for the 49ers. Early in the abbreviated 2021 season, Kuzemka posted a career performance, picking up a six save clean sheet in the season opener at Duke.
NEWCOMERS READY TO POP
Along with the impactful veterans, the 49ers roster features a laundry list of newcomers who will likely make immediate impacts.
Freshman defenders Lasse Laursen and Ian Pilcher are likely to be key factors in helping continue the trend of a stout 49ers back line. Laursen is a big and physical defender who is great in the air, while Pilcher is a player that head coach Kevin Langan has equated to former 49er, Patrick Hogan.
In the midfield and on the wings, Charlotte will be highlighted by Callum Watts and Alessandro Negri. Watts will be an impact player in the midfield, using his engine to create chances at key moments, while Negri's pace and vision on the wings will allow the 49ers to pump more balls inside the 18.
Leading the frontline of newcomers is forward JP Mbuthia. Mbuthia is a pacey forward who makes clever runs in behind defenders to create one-on-one opportunities in the final third.
RANKED AGAIN
After spending a large portion of the Spring ranked, the 49ers open the Fall 2021 season ranked inside the United Soccer Coaches Poll top-25.
This marks the 14th consecutive year the Niners have been ranked inside the Coaches Poll and continues the programs trend of appearing in the top-25 in every season since Langan took over as the head man.
UP NEXT
Following its two exhibitions, Charlotte will open up its 2021 ledger with a road tilt at Big 10 foe, Maryland on Thursday, Aug. 26 in College Park. Kickoff for the season lid-lifter is slated for 7 p.m. ET.
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