KANSAS CITY, MO. - After reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, the Lander men's soccer team will begin the 2023 season ranked among the top 25 in Div. II.

The United Soccer Coaches have ranked Lander No. 24 in the nation in their Preseason poll.

Lander finished last season 12-3-6 overall and 8-1-3 in the PBC. The Bearcats came away with both the PBC Regular Season and Tournament Title.

The Bearcats will begin the season against a pair of top-15 opponents in Florida Tech and Rollins of the Sunshine State Conference.

Florida Tech enters as the No. 11 team in the country and defeated Lander in the NCAA Tournament in penalty kicks after tying 1-1 in regulation. 

Rollins is the No. 7 team in the country. This will be just the third time in program history that Lander will face Rollins, with the Bearcats holding a 1-1 record in its previous two appearances. Lander won 3-2 in 1995 while losing 5-2 in 1999.

The Bearcats battle Florida Tech to begin the season on August 31 while taking on Rollins on September 2.