SLIAC Coaches Pick Eureka Ninth in Men’s Soccer Poll

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – A preseason poll conducted by St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's soccer head coaches tabbed Eureka College ninth, according to an announcement from the league office on Wednesday. Spalding was chosen to win the league in 2017 after sweeping its way to the crown last season.

The Golden Eagles, who won their first-ever SLIAC regular-season championship in 2016, received six first-place in the 2017 poll to edge five-time defending SLIAC Tournament champion Westminster for the top spot. The Blue Jays collected three first-place votes, while Webster netted one first-place vote and the third slot in the poll. Fontbonne was picked fourth.

Greenville, Principia, Blackburn, Iowa Wesleyan, Eureka and MacMurray rounded out the final six spots.

The top four teams in the final SLIAC regular-season standings will qualify for the league's annual postseason tournament. The highest seed hosts each match. The semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 2 and the title match for Saturday, Nov. 4.

Eureka is one year removed from one of its most successful campaigns In the 11-year history of the program. The Red Devils went 7-9-2 overall to fall one victory shy of the single-season program record for wins set in 2015. The 2016 squad set single-season program records with a 2.43 goals-against average and a .750 saves percentage.

The Red Devils will start the campaign on the road in a 3 p.m. kickoff at Faith Baptist Bible in Ankeny, Iowa on Friday, Sept. 8. The home opener is slated for Wednesday, Sept. 13 on the new turf at McKinzie Field against USCAA Robert Morris-Springfield. The match against the Eagles, Eureka's first at home on turf and under the lights in program history, is scheduled for 7 p.m.