The 2020 Big South Conference men's soccer season was the 37th edition of Big South Conference men's varsity soccer. The season began on February 21 and concluded on April 8, 2021.
The season was originally scheduled to be played from August 28 to November 6, 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the season
The COVID-19 pandemic widely disrupted all sporting activities across the NCAA, including men's soccer. Prior to the pandemic, the regular season was scheduled to begin on August 30, 2020 and conclude on November 6, 2020 culminating with the Big South Tournament in mid-November and the NCAA Tournament in late November into mid-December.
On July 22, 2020, the conference announced plans to begin the season during the fall 2020 semester, with a September 3 start date. On August 12, 2020, the conference reversed its decision, cancelling fall sporting activities, and targeting a spring 2021 semester start for all fall sports.
Details around the spring 2021 season became known on November 5, 2020 when the Big South Conference announced the schedule for the spring of 2021. Teams would play an eight-match conference schedule starting on February 21, 2021. Teams are permitted to schedule three non-conference matches, starting no earlier than February 14, 2021. The final game of the regular season was scheduled for April 8, 2021.
The tournament was reduced to four teams and will begin on April 12, 2021 and conclude on April 18, 2021.
Teams
Stadiums and locations TeamLocationStadiumCapacityCampbell Fighting CamelsIndianapolis, IndianaEakes Athletic ComplexGardner–Webb Runnin' BulldogsBoiling Springs, North CarolinaGreene-Harbison Soccer StadiumHigh Point PanthersHigh Point, North CarolinaVert StadiumLongwood LancersFarmville, VirginiaLongwood Athletics ComplexPresbyterian Blue HoseClinton, South CarolinaMartin StadiumRadford HighlandersRadford, VirginiaCupp Memorial StadiumUNC Asheville BulldogsAsheville, North CarolinaGreenwood Soccer FieldUSC Upstate SpartansSpartanburg, South CarolinaCounty University Soccer StadiumWinthrop EaglesRock Hill, South CarolinaEagle Field
Head coaches
Team Head coach Previous job Years atschool Overall record Record atschool BSCrecord NCAATournaments NCAACollege Cups NCAATitles Ref.Campbell High Point 6 2 0 0 Dustin Fonder's statistics: Campbell University records: High Point University records: Gardner–Webb 0 0 0 0 High Point Denver (asst.) 2 0 0 0 Longwood 0 0 0 0 Presbyterian 0 0 0 0 Radford 0 0 0 0 UNC Asheville 0 0 0 0 USC Upstate USC Upstate (asst.) 4 0 0 0 Winthrop Winthrop (asst.) 5 0 0 0 Daniel Ridenhour's statistics:
2019 season statistics: 2018 season statistics: 2017 season statistics: 2016 season statistics:
Preseason
Preseason poll The preseason poll was released on January 28, 2021. Team rankingPointsFirst place votes1.Campbell7662.High Point7013.Gardner–Webb5314.Presbyterian5005.USC Upstate4106.Longwood3617.Winthrop3408.Radford2809.UNC Asheville170
Preseason national polls The preseason national rankings are normally announced in August. United Soccer Coaches, Soccer America, and TopDrawerSoccer.com delayed their Top-25 preseason poll to the start of the spring season. CollegeSoccerNews.com did a Top-30 preseason poll in September 2020. TopDrawer Soccer, Soccer America, and United Soccer Coaches released their rankings in February 2021.
UnitedSoccer CSN SoccerAmerica TopDrawerSoccerCampbell — — — —Gardner–Webb — — — —High Point — — — RVLongwood — — — —Presbyterian — — — —Radford — — — —UNC Asheville — — — —USC Upstate — — — —Winthrop — — — —
Preseason honors
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Matt Lock, Campbell Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Luca Ziegler, Presbyterian
Regular season Weekly results Legend Index to colors and formattingBSC member wonBSC member lostBSC member tiedBSC teams in bold All times Eastern time.
Week 1 (Feb. 3 – Feb. 7) No Big South Teams scheduled matches during Week 1.
Week 2 (Feb. 8 – Feb. 14)
Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result AttendanceFebruary 142:00 p.m.WinthropSouth CarolinaStone StadiumColumbia, SC2-4167February 142:00 p.m.Gardner–WebbVMIPatchin FieldLexington, VA5-00February 143:00 p.m.LongwoodLibertyLiberty Soccer StadiumLynchburg, VAPostponed February 14 3:00 p.m. USC Upstate Wofford Snyder FieldSpartanburg, SC PostponedFebruary 144:00 p.m.Shaw UniversityCampbellEakes Athletics ComplexBuies Creek, NC0-225February 144:00 p.m.Lees–McRaeHigh PointVert StadiumHigh Point, NC0-50
Week 3 (Feb. 15 – Feb. 21) Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result AttendanceFebruary 173:00 p.m.WoffordWinthropEagle FieldRock Hill, SCCancelledFebruary 175:00 p.m.RadfordLibertyLiberty Soccer StadiumLynchburg, VA0-4250February 176:00 p.m.VCULongwoodLongwood Athletics ComplexFarmville, VAPostponed February 17 7:00 p.m. USC Upstate South Carolina Stone StadiumColumbia, SC 1-2 (OT)210February 211:00 p.m.LongwoodUNC AshevilleGreenwood Soccer FieldAsheville, NC1-21February 213:30 p.m.RadfordUSC UpstateCounty University Soccer StadiumSpartanburg, SC1-2155February 214:00 p.m.Gardner–WebbHigh PointVert StadiumHigh Point, NC0-40
Week 4 (Feb. 22 – Feb. 28) Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result AttendanceFebruary 227:00 p.m.WinthropCampbellEakes Athletics ComplexBuies Creek, NC0-660February 246:00 p.m.UNC GreensboroGardner–WebbGreene-Harbison StadiumShelby, NC February 24 7:00 p.m. Furman USC Upstate County University Soccer StadiumSpartanburg, SC February 257:00 p.m.DavidsonHigh PointVert StadiumHigh Point, NCFebruary 281:30 p.m.LongwoodPresbyterianMartin StadiumClinton, SCFebruary 282:00 p.m.CampbellUSC UpstateCounty University Soccer StadiumSpartanburg, SCFebruary 282:00 p.m.WinthropUNC AshevilleGreenwood Soccer FieldAsheville, NCFebruary 284:00 p.m.RadfordGardner–WebbGreene-Harbison StadiumShelby, NC
Week 5 (Mar. 1 – Mar. 7) Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result AttendanceMarch 17:00 p.m.High PointLibertyLiberty Soccer StadiumLynchburg, VAMarch 26:00 p.m.FurmanGardner–WebbGreene-Harbison StadiumShelby, NCMarch 36:00 p.m.CampbellUNC WilmingtonUNCW Soccer StadiumWilmington, NCMarch 37:00 p.m.PresbyterianUSC UpstateCounty University Soccer StadiumSpartanburg, SCMarch 47:00 p.m.VMIRadfordCupp StadiumRadford, VAMarch 72:00 p.m.Gardner–WebbLongwoodLongwood Athletics ComplexFarmville, VAMarch 72:00 p.m.High PointPresbyterianMartin StadiumClinton, SCMarch 73:00 p.m.USC UpstateWinthropEagle FieldRock Hill, SC March 7 6:00 p.m. UNC Asheville Campbell Eakes Athletics ComplexBuies Creek, NC
Week 6 (Mar. 8 – Mar. 14) Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result AttendanceMarch 104:00 p.m.LongwoodVMIPatchin FieldLexington, VAMarch 114:00 p.m.UNC AshevilleRadfordCupp StadiumRadford, VAMarch 136:00 p.m.High PointCampbellEakes Athletics ComplexBuies Creek, NCMarch 142:00 p.m.USC UpstateLongwoodLongwood Athletics ComplexFarmville, VAMarch 142:00 p.m.WinthropRadfordCupp Memorial StadiumRadford, VAMarch 143:00 p.m.PresbyterianGardner–WebbGreene-Harbison StadiumBoiling Springs, NC
Week 7 (Mar. 15 – Mar. 21) Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result Attendance March 17 7:00 p.m. High Point Winthrop Eagle FieldRock Hill, SC March 206:00 p.m.PresbyterianCampbellEakes Athletics ComplexBuies Creek, NCMarch 213:00 p.m.USC UpstateUNC AshevilleGreenwood Soccer FieldAsheville, NCMarch 216:00 p.m.Gardner–WebbWinthropEagle FieldRock Hill, SCMarch 227:00 p.m.RadfordHigh PointVert StadiumHigh Point, NC
Week 8 (Mar. 22 – Mar. 28) Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result AttendanceMarch 246:00 p.m.CampbellLongwoodLongwood Athletics ComplexFarmville, VAMarch 275:00 p.m.High PointUSC UpstateCounty University Soccer StadiumSpartanburg, SCMarch 286:00 p.m.LongwoodWinthropEagle FieldRock Hill, SCMarch 286:00 p.m.ElonCampbellEakes Athletics ComplexBuies Creek, NCMarch 282:00 p.m.Gardner–WebbUNC AshevilleGreenwood Soccer FieldAsheville, NCMarch 284:00 p.m.PresbyterianRadfordCupp Memorial StadiumRadford, VA
Week 9 (Mar. 29 – Apr. 4) Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result AttendanceApril 27:00 p.m.WinthropFurmanEugene E. Stone III StadiumGreenville, SCApril 34:00 p.m.USC UpstateGardner–WebbGreene-Harbison StadiumBoiling Springs, NCApril 37:00 p.m.LongwoodHigh PointVert StadiumHigh Point, NCApril 37:00 p.m.UNC AshevillePresbyterianMartin StadiumClinton, SCApril 31:00 p.m.CampbellRadfordCupp Memorial StadiumRadford, VA
Week 10 (Apr. 5 – Apr. 11) Date Time (ET) Visiting team Home team Site Result AttendanceApril 84:00 p.m.WinthropPresbyterianMartin StadiumClinton, SCApril 84:00 p.m.CampbellGardner–WebbGreene-Harbison StadiumBoiling Springs, NCApril 86:00 p.m.RadfordLongwoodLongwood Athletics ComplexFarmville, VAApril 87:00 p.m.UNC AshevilleHigh PointVert StadiumHigh Point, NC
Postseason Big South Tournament
The top four teams will qualify for the tournament. The tournament will be played April 12–18.
NCAA Tournament
The Big South Tournament winner will qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Other teams can still earn an at-large bid into the tournament.
Postseason awards and honors
2020 Big South Men's Soccer Individual Awards Award Recipient(s)Attacking Player of the YearDefensive Player of the YearCoach of the YearFreshman of the Year
2020 Big South Men's Soccer All-Conference Teams First Team Second Team Rookie Team
MLS SuperDraft
The 2021 MLS SuperDraft was held in January 2021.
Total picks by school
TeamRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4TotalCampbell1 Total 0 0 1 0 0
List of selections
Round Pick # MLS team Player Position College 375FC Dallas DFCampbell
Notable undrafted players The following players went pro after the 2020 season despite not getting drafted in the 2021 MLS draft.
Player Nationality Position College Team League
References
External links Sun Belt Conference Men's Soccer