The Upper Iowa men's soccer team has been selected to finish 13th in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. The poll was voted on by all 14 of the conference's head coaches, who were not eligible to vote for their own team.

The preseason poll is highlighted by top ranked Maryville, the defending regular season and tournament champions. They received 158 points and nine first place votes. Only one point separates the following three teams as Indianapolis accumulated 147 points (one first place), followed by Illinois Springfield's 146 points (one first place) and reigning conference tournament runner-up Lewis' 145 (two first places).

The Peacocks finished 13th out of the 14 teams in the conference, with a total of 24 points. They trail 12th ranked William Jewell who received 46 points, and rank ahead of Southwest Baptist who received 20 points.

Head Coach Jason Carlson returns for his second straight season with UIU, his second stint with the team. During his first stint with the Peacocks from 2013-16, he led the team to a 39-27-5 record. This past season, the Peacocks recorded a record of 2-13-2, finishing 7th in the GLIAC. Among the returners is All-GLIAC Honorable Mention Goalkeeper Archie Watts, who recorded four shutouts and 82 saves, while starting every game of the season.

The Peacocks open the season at home on Sept. 1 against Saint Ambrose, which will be their first of four non-conference games to start the season. Upper Iowa's first conference game will be on the road against Truman State on Sunday, Sept. 17. 

Following their non-conference schedule, they will be playing all 13 teams in their conference one time each. Mark your calendars, because the Peacocks will have a busy weekend in October, as they have back-to-back home games against powerhouses, Indianapolis on Friday, Oct. 20, as well as Lewis on Sunday, Oct. 22.

The Peacocks will be playing ten home games and seven away games throughout the course of August through October, ending their regular season on the road against former conference champions Maryville on Sunday, Oct. 29. Following the regular season, the conference tournament begins on Nov. 5 and will go through Nov. 12.

2023 GLVC MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL