OXFORD, Ohio – WVU Tech men's soccer will enter the 2026 season as the team to beat in the River States Conference after earning the top spot in the RSC Preseason Coaches' Poll announced Tuesday.
The defending RSC regular-season and tournament champion Golden Bears received the maximum seven first-place votes and 49 points. Conference coaches ranked the other seven member schools in order of predicted finish and could not vote for their own team.
Tech is coming off a 2025 season that included a perfect 9-0 record in conference play and two more victories in the RSC Tournament to secure the championship. The Golden Bears then carried their run into the NAIA National Championship, winning four matches to advance to the national championship match in Orange Beach, Alabama.
WVU Tech's path to the conference title included two victories over Rio Grande, which was picked second in the preseason poll with 43 points and the remaining first-place vote. The Golden Bears defeated the RedStorm 4-1 during the regular season before earning a 2-1 victory in the RSC Tournament championship match.
Midway was selected third with 35 points, followed by Saint Mary-of-the-Woods with 29. Brescia was picked fifth, IU Columbus sixth, IU East seventh and Kentucky Christian eighth.
The 2026 season begins Thursday, Aug. 20, with conference play scheduled to open Sept. 24. The RSC Tournament is set for Nov. 4, 7 and 11.
2026 RSC PRESEASON MEN'S SOCCER COACHES' POLL
- WVU Tech (49 points, 7 first-place votes)
- Rio Grande (43 points, 1 first-place vote)
- Midway (35 points)
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (29 points)
- Brescia (25 points)
- IU Columbus (22 points)
- IU East (15 points)
- Kentucky Christian (7 points)
