William Penn Tops 2025 Heart Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll

The Heart of America Athletic Conference announced the results of the 2025 Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll. 

1. William Penn – 188 points, 9 first-place votes

2. Missouri Valley – 184 points, 5 first-place votes

3. MidAmerica Nazarene – 172 points

4. Clarke – 145 points

5. Baker – 141 points

6. Benedictine – 116 points

7. Missouri Baptist – 99 points

8. Mount Mercy – 86 points

9. Park – 81 points

10. William Woods – 79 points

11. Central Methodist – 68 points

12. Graceland – 51 points

13. Grand View – 43 points

14. Culver-Stockton – 16 points

Recent National Championship Success

The Heart continues to perform as the top conference on the national stage. In the last seven years (2018–2024), Heart teams have captured:

• Four NAIA National Championships:

  • Central Methodist University – back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019.

  • Missouri Valley College – captured the national championship in 2020.

  • MidAmerica Nazarene University – won the national championship in 2023.

• Two National Runner-Up Finishes:

  • Missouri Valley College – reached the national title game in 2018, losing to Heart member Central Methodist.

  • William Penn University – finished as national runner-up in 2024.

This combination of championships and deep postseason runs underscores the Hearts reputation as one of the premier men's soccer conferences in the NAIA.

Summary

• Top favorite: William Penn leads the preseason poll, securing 9 first-place votes and 188 points.

• Lots of parity: Missouri Valley closely follows with 5 first-place nods; MidAmerica Nazarene a close third. 

• National pedigree: The Heart has claimed four NAIA Men's Soccer national titles and two national runner-up finishes in the past seven years, five teams made the national tournament last year with three advancing to the final site.