Rio Grande Picked to Win RSC in Men's Soccer

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio- The University of Rio Grande Red Storm have been selected as the River States Conference favorites in men's soccer, taking the top spot in the 2024 RSC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The poll, announced Tuesday by the River States Conference office, saw each of the conference's eight head coaches rank the other member schools in order of predicted finish.

Rio Grande was the top selection of six of the nine coaches, edging second place WVU Tech by four points. The Red Storm and the Golden Bears shared the RSC regular season title in 2023, both going 9-0-1 in RSC play. The teams played to a pair of scoreless draws - once in the regular season and again in the RSC Tournament championship match - with a WVU Tech win in penalty kicks giving the Golden Bears the tournament title.

Accordingly, the other three first place votes went to the defending tournament champions from WVU Tech, another NAIA Tournament qualifier from the 2023 season. Oakland City checks in third, with Shawnee State ranking fourth. In their second year as an RSC member, Indiana University Columbus is picked to finish fifth.

The bottom half of the poll sees Indiana University East place sixth, Midway at seventh, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods eighth, and Brescia rounding out the conference at ninth.

The Pomeroys of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College play the first official game of the 2024 season on Saturday, heading to Michigan for a matchup with Cleary University. Conference play is scheduled to begin Thursday, September 26, when the defending champions from WVU Tech head to the Hoosier State for a meeting with Indiana University Columbus.

2024 RSC PRESEASON MEN's SOCCER COACHES' POLL
1. Rio Grande (62 points, 6 first place votes)
2. West Virginia Tech (58 points, 3 first place votes)
3. Oakland City (49 points)
4. Shawnee State (43 points)
5. IU Columbus (30 points)
6. IU East (24 points)
7. Midway (23 points)
8. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (19 points)
9. Brescia (16 points)