The UMSL and Lindenwood men’s soccer teams were picked to finish seventh and eleventh, respectively, in the GLVC preseason coaches poll. (Photo courtesy: Lindenwood Athletics)

by Cedric Williams
Senior Editor

The Great Lakes Valley Conference released its preseason men’s soccer poll on Wednesday, with varying results for local teams, the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Lindenwood University.

UMSL, which went 7-5-3 in the covid-pandemic shortened 2020-21 season and advanced to the GLVC Tournament for the first time since 2016, was picked to finish seventh in the annual preseason vote by the league’s 15 head coaches.

A seventh place finish would earn the Tritons another trip to the GLVC Tournament, but UMSL is hoping to be better than that with All-GLVC performers, Tommy Naumann and Nick Schreiber returning for their junior seasons.

Lindenwood, which had a 3-11 record last season, was picked to finish tied for 11th, along with cross-state rival Missouri S&T.

Last year, was the first losing season for the Lions since 2009. This year, LU hopes to get back to its winning ways, led by its outstanding freshman trio of Isaac Hoog, Parkin Harape, and Gabriel Herrera.

Defending GLVC regular season champion, Indianapolis came in first in the voting, after receiving nine first-place votes and 191 total points. GLVC Tournament champion Maryville was second, after picking up five first-place votes and 183 points.

UMSL will begin its season on September 3, when the Tritons will host Upper Iowa in a match at Don Dallas Field that is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

Lindenwood opens its season on September 5. That day, the Lions will host Rogers State at Hunter Stadium. Kickoff for that game is set for 1 p.m.