KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Graceland University (Iowa) men's soccer ended last season as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Champion, and it will start 2007 as the leader in the polls. Graceland earns the No. 1 spot in the 2007 NAIA Men's Soccer Top 25 poll, announced today. The Yellowjackets totaled 299 points, including 11 of 12 first-place votes, to receive the top distinction.
Azusa Pacific (Calif.) grabbed the second ranking with 289 points and one first-place vote, as the Cougars appeared in their second straight title match in 2006. William Jewell (Mo.), who advanced to the semifinal round of last year's postseason tournament, begins the season at No. 3. Rio Grande (Ohio) and Webber International (Fla.) fill out the No. 4 and No. 5 slots, respectively.
The first regular season Top 25 poll will be released on Wednesday, Sept. 5.
2007 NAIA Preseason Men's Soccer Top 25 Poll - Aug. 15
RANK | SCHOOL | 1st PLACE VOTES | 2006 RECORD | TOTAL POINTS |
1 | Graceland (Iowa) | 11 | 17-4-3 | 299 |
2 | Azusa Pacific (Calif.) | 1 | 17-3-4 | 289 |
3 | William Jewell (Mo.) | | 18-3-2 | 264 |
4 | Rio Grande (Ohio) | | 18-2-1 | 256 |
5 | Webber International (Fla.) | | 14-5-0 | 253 |
6 | Lee (Tenn. | | 17-4-1 | 240 |
7 | Auburn Montgomery (Ala. | | 16-4-1 | 216 |
8 | Judson (Ill.) | | 17-4-1 | 209 |
9 | Concordia (Calif.) | | 14-5-1 | 208 |
10 | Grand View (Iowa) | | 19-5-0 | 173 |
11 | Embry-Riddle (Fla.) | | 13-7-0 | 145 |
12 | Vanguard (Calif.) | | 14-3-3 | 144 |
13 | Hannibal LaGrange (Mo.) | | 15-4-0 | 142 |
14 | Milligan (Tenn.) | | 18-7-0 | 137 |
15 | Park (Mo.) | | 13-8-1 | 127 |
16 | Goshen (Ind.) | | 15-5-4 | 115 |
17 | Berry (Ga.) | | 9-11-0 | 112 |
18 | Hastings (Neb.) | | 12-6-3 | 111 |
19 | Concordia (Ore.) | | 12-6-3 | 90 |
20 | Savannah Art & Design (Ga.) | | 13-6-1 | 81 |
21 | Westmont (Calif.) | | 11-6-3 | 60 |
22 | Columbia (Mo.) | | 11-7-1 | 36 |
23 | Ohio Dominican | | 15-5-1 | 34 |
24 | Mobile (Ala.) | | 7-9-0 | 33 |
25 | Northwood (Fla.) | | 10-11-2 | 28 |
Others Receiving Votes: Fresno Pacific (Calif.) 25; Bellevue (Neb.) 21; Lindenwood (Mo.) 21; Cornerstone (Mich.) 12; Westminster (Utah) 8; Northwestern (Iowa) 4; Maine - Fort Kent 4; Trinity International (Ill.) 3
