INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Lincoln men's soccer team is the preseason favorite to win the GLVC according to the league's preseason coaches poll, released on Wednesday (Aug. 26).

Lincoln, which is ranked No. 16 in the country in the United Soccer Coaches Division II poll, received six first-place votes and 192 total points to top the GLVC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Blue Tigers finished last season 12-2-6 and advanced as far as the NCAA Sweet 16. LU was undefeated in the regular season and, at one point, was ranked as high as No. 10 in the country.

Rockhurst, the 2025 GLVC regular season champions, received six first-place votes and 180 total points to be picked second. Maryville garnered two first-place votes and 166 points to be slotted third while McKendree rounded out the top-four with 162 points. Indianapolis received the final first-place vote and totaled 158 points to come in at fifth in the preseason poll.

Drury (115 points) and Lewis (107) were selected sixth and seventh, respectively, while Missouri S&T and Quincy tied for eighth with 102 points apiece. Missouri-St. Louis closed out the top-10 with 86 points, followed by Southwest Baptist (47), Truman State (45) and Illinois-Springfield (43). William Jewell and Upper Iowa tied for 14th with 35 points each.

The Blue Tigers open the 2026 season on Thursday (Aug. 27) in University City, Mich. by playing Saginaw Valley State at 1:30 p.m. CDT.