August 10, 2010
(KANSAS CITY, KAN.) – The National Soccer Coaches Association of America released both its men’s and women’s top-25 preseason coaches’ polls on Tuesday, with both Truman squads starting the upcoming season ranked No. 24 in the nation.
The Bulldog women, the preseason favorites in the MIAA, are the only squad from the conference listed in the top-25, as No. 6 West Texas A&M and No. 15 St. Edward’s (Texas) are the only other teams from the South Central region to join the 24th-ranked ‘Dogs in the poll. Truman, who returns six starters and four all-MIAA award winners, finished just outside of the top-25 and received votes in the final poll of 2009 after reaching the second round of the NCAA Div. II tournament.
On the men’s side, the Bulldogs pick up right where they left off at No. 24 after wrapping up the 2009 season with a 12-3-1 overall record and narrowly missing the NCAA Div. II tournament. Truman will face a challenging slate in 2010, as matches with preseason No. 1 Fort Lewis (Colo.), No. 3 Lewis (Ill.) and No. 9 Drury (Mo.) are on tap in the regular season. The Bulldogs will welcome the top-ranked and defending national champion Fort Lewis Skyhawks to Kirksville for a 4 pm match on Friday, Sept. 10. Truman brings back six starters, including first-team all-region selection Jonathan Brown, for the 2010 campaign.
Both squads report for fall training starting next Monday (Aug. 16) and open their regular seasons on Sept. 3, with the women’s squad traveling to the Central Oklahoma Classic to face Midwestern (Texas) State and the men’s program hosting St. Edward’s (Texas) at the Bulldog Soccer Pitch at 4 pm.