OSKALOOSA — The William Penn men’s soccer team is in the mix right out of the gate as the NAIA released its preseason top-25 poll Wednesday.
WPU, which was 11-7-3 last year (6-4-2 Heart) is unofficially 35th with 18 points. National qualifiers from a year ago, the navy and gold also started the 2022 campaign in the receiving votes section.
The Statesmen are one of four representatives from the Heart of America Athletic Conference in the rating. Missouri Valley tops the quartet at #7, while Central Methodist is #12 and MidAmerica Nazarene is #15.
Defending national champion Bethel (Ind.) leads the nation with 498 points and all 18 first-place votes. Mobile (Ala.) is second, while Rio Grande (Ohio), Dalton State (Ga.), and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) round out the top five.
William Penn begins the season Saturday by hosting Governors State in non-conference play at 2 p.m.