(Editor's note: Rocky Mountain College media release)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Rocky Mountain College earned a No. 8 ranking in the 2019 NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll. The Battlin' Bears received 375 points.
The poll is voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, Association of Independent Institutions and Unaffiliated Groups.
The Battlin' Bears earned the highest ranking of any Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) in the poll. Southern Oregon University earned a No. 13 ranking with 306 points while Corban University earned a ranking of No. 16 ranking with 269 points.
The Battlin' Bears finished last season 18-5-1 and won the 2019 CCC Championship over Southern Oregon in penalty kicks. The Battlin' Bears advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2018 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship before losing to the eventual NAIA champion, Central Methodist.
Rocky entered the 2018 season ranked No. 17 in the NAIA's Men's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll and finished the season ranked No. 8 in the postseason poll.
The 2019 season will be the 11th year for head soccer coach Richard Duffy.
Rocky opens the 2019 season on Aug. 29 against Hope International University in Fullerton, California.
