With 10 returning starters and one of the nation's top recruiting classes for the upcoming season, North Carolina has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference men's soccer title as determined by a vote of the league's nine head coaches.

The Tar Heels, coming off a 17-4-3 season, collected 73 points and four first-place votes. Senior Ben Hunter, who scored 13 goals last season, will lead the offense for UNC, which posted a school-record 15 shutouts a year ago.

Virginia was picked to finish second with 65 points, followed by Maryland, Duke, Clemson, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Boston College and N.C. State. Maryland received two first-place votes, while Virginia, Duke and Clemson received one each.

FOOTBALL

WISCONSIN QB HAS KNEE SURGERY: Wisconsin senior quarterback John Stocco could miss time this season following surgery Friday on his right knee.

Stocco, who aggravated a 2003 injury, set school records for passing yards (2,920), touchdown passes (21), pass completions (197) and total offensive yards (2,888) last season.

Wisconsin opens its season on Sept. 2 against Bowling Green.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

VANDERBILT STAFFER DISCIPLINED: A member of Vanderbilt women's basketball staff violated SEC and NCAA rules and has been disciplined, school officials said Friday.

A non-coaching member of the staff improperly attended an AAU basketball event off-campus on July 22, according to a statement from the university.

Only certified members of the coaching staff are permitted to recruit off-campus.

MISCELLANY

CLEMSON AD: UNLIKELY NCAA VIOLATIONS OCCURRED IN DEATH: Clemson athletics director Terry Don Phillips says the school's investigation shows it's unlikely any NCAA violations occurred during a Lake Keowee outing on July 8 where assistant track coach Jarrett Foster was killed when he was hit by a personal watercraft.

The school brought in attorneys -- which Phillips says the athletic department keeps on retainer -- to look into potential NCAA violations.

Foster fell off a personal watercraft and was struck by one following behind. That watercraft was being driven by Clemson offensive lineman Roman Fry. Another offensive lineman, Nathan Bennett, was driving the watercraft that Foster fell off.

The watercraft were owned by people who had connections to Clemson's booster organization, IPTAY. The NCAA has rules against student-athletes receiving extra benefits, although there are exceptions when players have pre-existing relationships.