OSKALOOSA — The Statesmen men’s soccer team is essentially assured of more action this fall and will head into the national tournament with a strong ranking as the NAIA released its final top-25 poll Wednesday.
Despite dropping its final two games of the season entering nationals, WPU (11-4-4 overall) is still rated 17th with 224 points.
The Statesmen are one of five representatives in the poll from the Heart of America Athletic Conference, including three in the top 25. Missouri Valley is first in the quintet at #12, while MidAmerica Nazarene is #18. Benedictine and Mount Mercy are also in the receiving votes section with unofficial rankings of #33 and #42, respectively.
The nation’s top five is unchanged with Mid-America Christian (Okla.) at a unanimous #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.
WPU will find out where it is playing for the NAIA National Championship Opening Round during the selection show next Monday at 1 p.m.
NAIA Final Men’s Soccer Rating — November 8, 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. Rio Grande (Ohio)
6. Mobile (Ala.)
8. Oklahoma Wesleyan
9. Bethel (Ind.)
10. William Carey (Miss.)
11. Keiser (Fla.)
12. Missouri Valley
13. Westcliff (Calif.)
14. Florida National
15. Union (Ky.)
16. Cumberlands (Ky.)
17. William Penn
18. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)
19. Milligan (Tenn.)
20. Southern Oregon
21. Concordia (Neb.)
22. Indiana Wesleyan
23. Cumberland (Tenn.)
24. Menlo (Calif.)
25. Bethel (Tenn.)
Receiving votes: Williams Baptist (Ark.) 87; Columbia (Mo.) 59; Tennessee Wesleyan 52; Louisiana Christian 46; UC Merced (Calif.) 32; Briar Cliff 29; Ottawa (Kan.) 20; Benedictine (Kan.) 18; Aquinas (Mich.) 13; Vanguard (Calif.) 12; Southeastern (Fla.) 12; WVU Tech (W.Va) 12; Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 12; Warner Pacific (Ore.) 11; Thomas (Ga.) 9; Bellevue (Neb.) 8; Mount Mercy 6; Marian (Ind.) 3.
