OSKALOOSA — The William Penn men’s soccer team’s perfect start helped it slide up two spots as the NAIA released its first top-25 poll Wednesday.

WPU (3-0) collected 283 points to now sit at #14.  It marks the 12th poll in a row in which the navy and gold are ranked in the top 25.

The Statesmen continue to be one of three representatives in the poll from the Heart of America Athletic Conference, all of whom are in the top 25.  MidAmerica Nazarene is now #6 and Missouri Valley is #9.

Milligan (Tenn.) is the NAIA’s new #1 with 464 points and eight first-place votes.  Dalton State (Ga.), with six first-place ballots, and St. Thomas (Fla.), with one, are tied for second, while Oklahoma Wesleyan and Bethel (Ind.) round out the top five.

WPU travels to Bartlesville, Okla. Friday to face Oklahoma Wesleyan in non-conference action at 7 p.m.

NAIA Men’s Soccer Rating #1– August 28, 2024
Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Milligan (Tenn.) (8)
2. Dalton State (Ga.) (6)
2. St. Thomas (Fla.) (1)
4. Oklahoma Wesleyan
5. Bethel (Ind.)
6. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) (3)
7. Bellevue (Neb.)
8. Mobile (Ala.)
9. Indiana Tech
9. Missouri Valley
11. Mid-America Christian (Okla.)
12. Keiser (Fla.)
13. Grace (Ind.)
14. William Penn
15. Indiana Wesleyan
16. William Carey (Miss.)
17. Columbia (Mo.)
18. Bethel (Tenn.)
19. Cumberland (Tenn.)
20. Cumberlands (Ky.)
21. Rio Grande (Ohio)
22. Florida National
23. Southern Oregon
24. LSU Shreveport
25. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)

Receiving votes: Westcliff (Calif.) 80, Louisiana Christian 56, Georgia Gwinnett 48, Missouri Baptist 40, Tennessee Southern 24, Union Commonwealth (Ky.) 22, UC Merced (Calif.) 18, Concordia (Neb.) 17, Spring Arbor (Mich.) 17, Tennessee Wesleyan 10, John Brown (Ark.) 7, William Woods (Mo.) 5, Benedictine (Kan.) 3, Warner Pacific (Ore.) 3, Thomas (Ga.) 2.