Three Mid-South Teams Ranked in NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches’ Top 25 Poll

9/3/2025 2:17:33 PM

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- A trio of Mid-South Conference teams are ranked and a fourth earns a mention in the latest NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, NAIA officials announced on Wednesday.

Cumberland (Tenn.), Cumberlands (Ky.), and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) all moved up in the national poll, while Bethel (Tenn.) is just outside the top 25 but is receiving voting points.

Cumberlands is the top-ranked MSC team at No. 2. The Patriots (2-0-2) received 474 voting points to climb two spots in the poll. Cumberlands picked up a pair of wins over nationally ranked teams, including a 1-0 victory over then-No. 11-ranked Bethel (Ind.). The Patriots travel to Life (Ga.) on Saturday.

Lindsey Wilson jumped five spots in this week's poll to No. 7. The Blue Raiders (3-0-1) received 389 voting points following a draw against then-No. 10-ranked Indiana Wesleyan and beating Georgia Gwinnett -- who is receiving votes in the poll -- 3-1 on the road. Lindsey Wilson returns to action on Saturday as the Blue Raiders host No. 23-ranked Rio Grande (Ohio).

Cumberland -- who was receiving votes but outside the poll in the last rating -- made a major leap to No. 18. The Phoenix (3-0-1) garnered 186 voting points from the raters after an impressive 4-0 win over then-No. 6-ranked Mobile (Ala.) and a 3-3 draw with Bethel (Ind.). Cumberland hosts Tennessee Southern on Friday.

Bethel (Tenn.) received 11 voting points and is one of 23 teams in the receiving votes category. The Wildcats are 1-0 this season and travel to another team just outside the poll, Columbia (Mo.).

Dalton State (Ga.) (4-0) remains atop the poll with 510 voting points. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) is No. 3 with 464 voting points followed by No. 4 Oklahoma Wesleyan (453 voting points) and No. 5 William Penn (Iowa) (422).

The next NAIA Men's Soccer Top 25 Poll is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, September 17.

Poll Methodology

  • The national poll is for publicity purposes only and does not influence the selection process for national championship consideration.
  • A panel of head coaches representing each conference and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) votes in the poll.
  • The Top 25 teams are selected using a points-based system: 30 points for a 1st-place vote, 29 for 2nd, 28 for 3rd, and so on.
  • For the Preseason Poll, there is no "previous ranking" column since it is the initial poll and differs from the prior rating system. 
  • Teams receiving only one point are not listed as “receiving votes.”
  • The highest and lowest rankings received by each team are discarded before final tallying.