Kentucky Men's Soccer ranked 14th in preseason poll

Expectations are high after a successful 2020 season.

On Wednesday, the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll ranked the Kentucky Wildcats Men’s Soccer club as the 14th best team in the country. Kentucky finished the 2020 season ranked No. 16 with a record of 12-5-2, making it all the way to the round of 16 in the NCAA Championship before falling to No. 4 Wake Forest. It was just the third time in program history UK made it to the final 16.

The ‘Cats will return 18 players from last season’s team.

The best part about being home to the No. 1️⃣4️⃣ team in the nation? It won’t cost a dime to watch them play.

📄 https://t.co/5Q9WQZyGkp pic.twitter.com/AoIynboEhK

— Kentucky Men’s Soccer (@UKMensSoccer) August 5, 2021

Below is the entire top 25:

1. Marshall
2. Indiana
3. Pittsburgh
4. North Carolina
5. Georgetown
6. Clemson
7. Wake Forest
8. Stanford
9. Washington
10. Seton hall
11. Penn State
12. Missouri State
13. Central Florida
14. Kentucky
15. Virginia Tech
16. Oregon State
17. Loyola Marymount
18. Charlotte
19. Marquette
20. New Hampshire
21. James Madison
22. Grand Canyon
23. Fordham
24. High Point
25. Coastal Carolina

Kentucky will open its 2021 campaign with two exhibition matches against Evansville at home on August 15 and on the road against Northern Kentucky on August 20. The season-opener is set for August 26 against No. 25 Coastal Carolina. That game will be one of three against ranked opponents for UK this season, with a trip to No. 1 Marshall–the defending national champions–on September 25 and at No. 18 Charlotte on October 30. The September 7 rivalry game against Louisville will also be on the road.

Unlike most of the school’s sports, Kentucky Men’s Soccer is a member of Conference-USA. The C-USA tournament will run November 10-14.