The Missouri Valley Vikings men’s soccer team was picked second in the preseason Heart of America Athletic Conference coaches’ poll.
The defending regular season champions picked up five first-place votes in the poll, while tournament champs and national runners-up William Penn claimed the remaining nine first-place votes to earn the top spot by four points. Last season, Penn defeated Missouri Valley in the conference tournament championship game in Marshall, after the Vikings had achieved an undefeated conference record in the regular season. It was the Vikings’ third straight conference title. The Vikings earned an automatic berth to the 2024 NAIA National Tournament, hosting a game before falling to MidAmerica Nazarene in the first round at the national site in Wichita. MidAmerica is ranked third in the new preseason poll.
Missouri Valley features two returning seniors. Goalkeeper Vicente Benitez Delgado is a two-time first-team Heart All-Conference selection, finishing last season with 53 saves and a goals against average of 0.83, leading the Vikings to seven shutouts. Defender Jacob Adams was named to last season’s all-conference first team, leading a team that allowed just 78 shots on goal last season. Head Coach Vladimir Simic will lead the Vikings for a 24th season, fresh off his fifth Heart Coach of the Year award.
The Vikings’ season begins Tuesday, Aug. 26 with a home match against the Columbia Cougars. The conference campaign begins Sept. 9 when Benedictine pay a visit to Volney C Ashford Stadium.
Heart of America Athletic Conference
2025 Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll
- William Penn 188 (9)
- Missouri Valley 184 (5)
- MidAmerica Nazarene 172
- Clarke 145
- Baker 141
- Benedictine 116
- Missouri Baptist 99
- Mount Mercy 86
- Park 81
- William Woods 79
- Central Methodist 68
- Graceland 51
- Grand View 43
- Culver-Stockton 16