Grace College’s women’s soccer team achieved its highest ranking in program history when the NAIA unveiled its Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll on Tuesday.
The Lady Lancers landed at No. 15 in the nation, racking up 273 points from the coaches’ tally. Grace ended the 2014 campaign 18th in the poll, following an impressive 17-5-3 campaign.
The release marks Grace’s eighth straight national ranking from the NAIA and the eighth ranking in team history. The Lady Lancers climbed as high as No. 17 in the NAIA poll last fall.
Grace’s ranking will be challenged this weekend in the season opener. The 15th-ranked Lady Lancers will host No. 16 Bellevue on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Miller Athletic Complex in a highly-anticipated matchup. WATCH IT LIVE
Overall, the Lady Lancers will play five teams in the nonleague schedule that are ranked or receiving votes. Grace hosts No. 11 The Master’s on Aug. 29 and No. 2 Northwestern Ohio on Sept. 19. Grace also plays against John Brown (RV) on Sept. 10 and Oklahoma City (RV) on Sept. 12.
The Crossroads League boasted three members in the Top 25, including No. 8 Spring Arbor and No. 25 Mt. Vernon Nazarene. Defending NAIA champion Lindsey Wilson is the preseason No. 1 with Northwestern Ohio, Keiser, Cumberland and Martin Methodist rounding out the top five. To see the complete poll, click here.