United Soccer Coaches Pre-Season National Poll
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The United Soccer Coaches Association released their 2022 Division III Men's Soccer Preseason Top 25 this week with the University of Redlands Men's Soccer team opening the season at No. 12 in the polls.
The Bulldog finished 2021 ranked No. 12 in the final Division III National Polls after falling to the eventual NCAA Division III National Champions Connecticut College (1-0), who come into 2022 ranked No. 1. The Bulldogs are looking to build off a strong campaign from a year ago where they finished 17-3-1, won the SCIAC Tournament Title and found their way into the Sweet 16 at the NCAA Division III National Championships. This was the highest finish for the program since 2016 when Head Coach Ralph Perez led them to the Elite 8.
Notably the Bulldogs are the only team from the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) who made it inside the Top 25 as Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) is receiving votes.
Sitting inside the Top 25 include Calvin University and Montclair State, both of whom are on the Bulldogs non-conference schedule. Calvin opens the season ranked No. 9 after a 17-4-2 season a year ago. The last time these two teams met was in 2011 during the Sweet 16 at the NCAA Division III National Championships that finished 1-1 but saw Calvin advance on penalty kicks. The Bulldogs and Knights will be the regular season opener for the University of Redlands on Friday, September 2 at 4:00 p.m., as they venture to Michigan for a two-game road trip.
The Montclair State Red Hawks open at No. 23 after a 17-4-1 season last year. The Bulldogs will take on the Red Hawks eight days after the Knights, but it will be a home contest at Farquhar Field under the lights on Saturday, September 10 at 7:00 p.m. Redlands and Montclair State have never met (as of 2002).
As for their conference foe, CMS, the Bulldogs and Stags play twice, one home, one away, on September 14 at home to open the SCIAC schedule and then October 26 on the road.
If you would like more information about the 2022 Bulldog Men's Soccer team, you can read the season preview that goes over the schedule and returning players.