The SLU Billikens will begin the 2025 season on August 14, with a game against Kansas City. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

Nora Nichols
Staff Writer

The United Soccer Coaches preseason national Top 25 women’s soccer poll was released on Monday, with defending national champion North Carolina selected as a unanimous choice for No. 1 in the country.

Saint Louis University, which was ranked No. 22 in last year’s final poll, was listed in the “others receiving votes” category. This is the sixth time — including five of the past seven years — the Billikens have appeared in either the Top 25 or the “receiving votes” section of the preseason poll.

Notre Dame was ranked No. 2, followed by Florida State, Duke, USC, Arkansas, Stanford, UCLA, TCU and 2024 national runner-up Wake Forest to close out the Top 10.

The second 10 includes two SLU opponents — No. 11 Penn State and No. 13 Iowa.

The Billikens will play two exhibition games this week, before getting ready for the season opener at Kansas City on August 14.

SLU’s home opener will be on August 24 at Hermann Stadium against Missouri.

United Soccer Coaches — National Pre-season Poll — Top 25

RankSchoolPrev1st-Place VotesTotal PointsW-L-T
1.North Carolina1820022-5-0
2.Notre Dame6019014-4-4
3.Florida State13017715-2-4
4.Duke3017218-3-1
5.Southern California5015818-1-4
6.Arkansas9015416-2-3
7.Stanford4014116-5-2
8.UCLA18012617-4-3
9.TCU16012317-4-2
10.Wake Forest2011416-4-4
11.Penn State8011215-7-3
12.Michigan State14010714-3-5
13.Iowa1209115-3-4
14.Virginia Tech708714-6-3
15.VirginiaRV07613-5-1
16.Santa Clara2007013-4-4
17.Vanderbilt1506710-4-7
18.Ohio State1106114-6-3
19.Texas2105917-4-2
20.Mississippi State1004719-3-0
21.South Carolina2304511-4-7
22.Oklahoma StateNR04314-5-3
23.Wisconsin1903710-6-5
24.Minnesota1702614-5-3
25.Texas Tech2402415-5-2

Records shown are final 2024 rankings.

Also receiving votes: Saint Louis University (17), Georgia (16), BYU (12), Auburn (9), Memphis (9), Georgetown (9), California (8), Clemson (6), Pepperdine (5), Kentucky (2).

2025 SLU Billikens Women’s Soccer Schedule

DateTimeAtOpponentLocation
August 6, 2025 (Wednesday)6 pmHomeSEMO (preseason)Hermann Stadium
August 9, 2025 (Saturday)4 pmHomeEvansville (preseason)Hermann Stadium
August 14, 2025 (Thursday)7 pmAwayKansas CityKansas City, Mo.
August 21, 2025 (Thursday)7 pmAwayPenn StateUniversity Park, Pa.
August 24, 2025 (Sunday)5 pmHomeMissouriHermann Stadium
August 28, 2025 (Thursday)7 pmHomeIndianaHermann Stadium
August 31, 2025 (Sunday)1 pmAwayIowaIowa City, Iowa
September 4, 2025 (Thursday)6 pmHomeMissouri StateHermann Stadium
September 7, 2025 (Sunday)1 pmAwaySIUEEdwardsville, Ill.
September 14, 2025 (Sunday)1 pmHomeIllinois StateHermann Stadium
September 21, 2025 (Sunday)1 pmHomeDavidsonHermann Stadium
September 25, 2025 (Thursday)6 pmAwayVCURichmond, Va.
September 28, 2025 (Sunday)12 pmAwayGeorge WashingtonWashington, D.C.
October 2, 2025 (Thursday)7 pmHomeLa SalleHermann Stadium
October 5, 2025 (Sunday)12 pmAwaySaint Joseph’sPhiladelphia, Pa.
October 12, 2025 (Sunday)1 pmHomeDuquesneHermann Stadium
October 16, 2025 (Thursday)7 pmHomeDaytonHermann Stadium
October 19, 2025 (Sunday)12 pmAwayRhode IslandKingston, R.I.
October 23, 2025 (Thursday)6 pmAwayFordhamBronx, N.Y.
October 26, 2025 (Sunday)1 pmHomeLoyola ChicagoHermann Stadium