Indianapolis, IN –Southern Illinois University Edwardsville received 13 first-place votes and 169 points to claim the top spot in the 2005 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) men’s soccer preseason coaches’ poll. The Cougars ended the 2004 season with a 19-3-2 record and a perfect 10-0 conference record to earn first place among GLVC teams. SIUE advanced to the 2004 NCAA Division II Championship game, losing 2-1 to Seattle, and ranked 2nd in the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll. Head coach Ed Huneke begins his 20th season with the Cougars, and welcomes back all but one starter from last year’s squad.

The 2005 season brings the addition of three new schools to the GLVC: Drury University, the University of Missouri-Rolla, and Rockhurst University. Conference play kicks off in September and culminates with the GLVC tournament hosted by the #1 seed at the conclusion of regular season play. This year’s conference tournament will feature an eight-team format with semifinal and final games being played November 4 and 6.

2005 GLVC Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll – Team Ranking (total points)
1. SIU Edwardsville (169)
2. Wisconsin-Parkside (147)
3. Lewis University (145)
4. Rockhurst (131)
5. Quincy (124)
6. Northern Kentucky (109)
7. Drury (87)
8. Indianapolis (77)
9. Bellarmine (68)
10. Missouri-Rolla (63)
11. Missouri-St. Louis (62)
12. Southern Indiana (48)
13. Saint Joseph’s (31)
14. Kentucky Wesleyan (13)