BU Men's Soccer checks in at No. 12 in Preseason Poll
Bellevue (16-3-2 in 2021) enters the year ranked No. 12 in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Top 25.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Coming off the program's third NAIA National Tournament Appearance in the last three seasons, the Bellevue University men's soccer team enters the 2022 season carrying a No. 12 national ranking.
Bellevue played to a 16-3-2 record a season ago en route to winning their second-straight CAC (formerly A.I.I.) Tournament, hosted an Opening Round, and came within a game of returning to the NAIA Final Site for the sixth time.
Joining the Bruins in the rankings are two other members of the Continental Athletic Conference. Florida National, whom BU defeated 1-0 in the CAC Championship, checks in at No. 19 and Georgia Gwinnett begins the year with a No. 23 national ranking.
Despite the graduation of three All-Americans off last year's team, Bellevue returns a strong core led by senior All-American striker Oumar Sissoko (Bamako, Mali), first team all-CAC striker Antonio Capra (Santiago, Chile), second team all-CAC winger Anthony Cox (Suffolk, England), and second team all-CAC midfielder Zach Robbins (Omaha, Neb.).
The Bruins have once again put together one of the toughest schedules in the country. This season will see BU take on seven other Preseason Top 25 teams and another that received votes. Of their 18 games, eight come against 2021 NAIA National Tournament Qualifiers while 11 of 18 are against teams that have qualified for at least one of the last two National Tournaments.
While preseason camp is already well underway, the team officially kicks off the 2022 campaign on Thursday, Aug. 18 at 7:30 p.m. against Doane University from Papillion Landing.