NEW ORLEANS – The Coastal Carolina men’s soccer team has represented for #TealNation during the 2021 spring season. The reigning Sun Belt Conference champions continue to build on their momentum from the fall season with notable wins that will undoubtedly prepare them for their impending NCAA tournament bid.
 
The No. 16 Chanticleers (9-2-2) have moved up the ledger picking up multiple honors along the way, after opening the spring slate at 23rd in the nation. By week 3, CCU broke into the top-20 with a No. 19 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll. The Chants sit at 12th on TopDrawerSoccer.com and 15th in the College Soccer News poll and their nine wins are tied for the fourth-most wins among the nation's top 25 teams.
 
The Chants’ ascension comes behind a demonstrative 2-1 win against then-No. 9 UNC Wilmington last Saturday, which delivered the Seahawks their first loss of the spring season. A penalty kick from senior Claudio Repetto in the 62nd minute, followed by a header by sophomore Kasper Skraep, gave CCU the insurance it needed to outlast UNCW’s aggressive offense. The Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year, Akron transfer and senior Tor Saunders, recorded six saves to help secure the victory.
 
All-Sun Belt honoree Saunders has had a lucrative sprin,  being named a top-10 finalist for the prestigious Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character, and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2021 NCAA Men's and Women's College Cup championships in May.
 
The Chants picked up their third regular-season Sun Belt Conference Championship in the fall and the program’s 15th overall regular-season title. Saunders’ play earned him a spot on the Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament team and the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player honor. He was recently drafted by Nashville SC in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft.
 
Coastal head coach Shaun Docking, in his 22nd season, was named the 2020 Sun Belt Coach of the Year after leading the Chants to a 5-1 record in league play.
 
Selections for the NCAA tournament will be announced on April 19 for both men’s and women’s teams. Both championships will be held in Cary, North Carolina. The first round for the women’s teams is scheduled for April 27-28, while the men’s opening round is slated for April 29.