Rio RedStorm men’s soccer at top of RSC preseason poll

The University of Rio Grande has been selected to repeat as River States Conference champions in men's soccer after claiming the top spot in the 2025 RSC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The poll, announced last Wednesday by the River States Conference office, saw each of the conference's 10 head coaches rank the other member schools in order of predicted finish.

The RedStorm were the unanimous selection of the other nine head coaches in the conference, earning all nine possible first-place votes and 81 points. Head coach Scott Morrissey's team was a dominant force in last season, going 8-0 in conference play before outscoring the opposition 10-0 in tournament play en route to the RSC Tournament crown.

Rio Grande also earned a postseason win, rolling past Bryan College 7-0 before falling one match short of a trip to the final site.

WVU Tech, who went 6-2 in conference play last season, was picked to finish second. The Golden Bears, who earned the only other available first place vote and 70 points, got to the conference title match last season, thanks to a win over Oakland City in penalty kicks.

The Mighty Oaks are close behind the Golden Bears in third with 67 points, while Shawnee State (57 pts.) and Midway (41 pts.) round out the top five.

The bottom half of the poll sees St. Mary-of-the-Woods place sixth (40 pts.), Indiana University East at seventh (32 pts.), Brescia eighth (27 pts.), Indiana University Columbus ninth (26 pts.) and RSC newcomer Kentucky Christian University rounding out the conference in 10th with nine points.

The action begins in men's soccer on August 21, with three River States Conference teams on the road — Shawnee State in Florida against Ave Maria, Rio Grande in Chicago against St. Xavier, and Brescia in Georgia against Dalton State.

Conference play begins Thursday, Sept. 25, with Oakland City hosting IU East and Midway playing host to St. Mary-of-the-Woods.