OSKALOOSA — A tie on the road in its league opener was not enough to keep the Statesmen men’s soccer team from dipping one spot as the NAIA released its third top-25 poll Wednesday.

WPU (5-1-2, 0-0-1 Heart) has dropped to #15 with 266 points, but remains second within the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

Throughout its first eight contests, the Statesmen have met two teams currently from the top 11 as well as numerous other programs who are perennial powers in the NAIA.

The Heart has five representatives in the poll, led by MidAmerica Nazarene at #6.  Missouri Valley is #22, Central Methodist sits at #24, and Grand View is in the receiving votes section with an unofficial ranking of #31.

Mid-America Christian (Okla.) is the NAIA’s new #1 with 498 points and all 18 first-place votes.  Dalton State (Ga.), St. Thomas (Fla.), Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), and Grace (Ind.) round out the top five.

William Penn travels to Dubuque Wednesday to face Clarke in Heart action at 5:30 p.m.

NAIA Men’s Soccer Rating #3 – September 20, 2023
Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Mid-America Christian (Okla.) (18)
2. Dalton State (Ga.)
3. St. Thomas (Fla.)
4. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
5. Grace (Ind.)
6. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)
7. Bethel (Ind.)
7. William Carey (Miss.)
9. Rio Grande (Ohio)
10. Oklahoma Wesleyan
11. Mobile (Ala.)
12. Georgia Gwinnett
13. Bethel (Tenn.)
14. Columbia (Mo.)
15. William Penn
16. Florida National
17. Keiser (Fla.)
18. Life (Ga.)
19. Cumberlands (Ky.)
20. Indiana Wesleyan
21. Union (Ky.)
22. Missouri Valley
23. Columbia International (S.C.)
24. Central Methodist (Mo.)
25. Concordia (Neb.)

Receiving Votes: Madonna (Mich.) 79; Missouri Baptist 75; UC Merced (Calif.) 58; Southeastern (Fla.) 37; Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 35; Grand View 34; Southern Oregon 30; Arizona Christian 21; Louisiana Christian 14; Faulkner (Ala.) 8; Westcliff (Calif.) 7; Tennessee Wesleyan 3; Florida Memorial 3; Menlo (Calif.) 3; Campbellsville (Ky.) 3.