KANSAS CITY, MO - The Clayton State Lakers have been ranked #16 in the nation in the United Soccer Coaches preseason Top 25.
Clayton State finished the 2023 season ranked 16th as the entire Top 25 preseason poll is a team-for-team match to the final poll of last season.
The Lakers had a remarkable season as a team as they finished with a final record of 15-4-1. The Lakers earned their first Peach Belt Conference (PBC) regular season championship since 2010 and earned their first Tournament Championship since 2007. Clayton State then earned a bid to the 2023 DII Tournament for the first time since 2010 and won the round of 64 match in penalty kicks over Lenoir-Rhyne before falling in the Round of 32 against Limestone.
Clayton State led the PBC in several categories including goals for (55), goals against (23), shots (380), corners (128) and saver percentage (78.7%). The Lakers were also towards the top nationally in several categories including finishing third in shots a game (19), fourth in total shots (380), seventh in total goals (55) and total assists (46), and 12th in total corner kicks (128). This Lakers' team also etched their name in the program record books as they scored the second-most goals in a single season and conceded the fewest goals since 2019.
The Lakers will open the 2024 season on Sept. 5, hosting Converse at 7:00 pm.
National - Pre-season Poll - August 6, 2024
| Rank |
School |
Prev |
W-L-T |
| 1 |
Franklin Pierce University |
1 |
21-0-2 |
| 2 |
Colorado State University-Pueblo |
2 |
18-5-3 |
| 3 |
Florida Tech |
3 |
13-3-5 |
| 4 |
Lewis University |
4 |
13-4-6 |
| 5 |
California State University-Los Angeles |
5 |
18-1-3 |
| 6 |
Limestone University |
6 |
14-3-2 |
| 7 |
Gannon University |
7 |
18-2-2 |
| 8 |
Midwestern State University |
8 |
20-1-1 |
| 9 |
University of Charleston |
9 |
19-2-0 |
| 10 |
Cal Poly Pomona |
10 |
14-2-5 |
| 11 |
Barry University |
11 |
13-4-1 |
| 12 |
Maryville University of St. Louis |
12 |
12-4-6 |
| 13 |
University of West Florida |
13 |
12-1-6 |
| 14 |
Post University |
14 |
13-2-6 |
| 15 |
University of Indianapolis |
15 |
12-2-7 |
| 16 |
Clayton State University |
16 |
15-4-1 |
| 17 |
University of Illinois-Springfield |
17 |
13-1-7 |
| 18 |
California State University Chico |
18 |
11-2-7 |
| 19 |
Lynn University |
19 |
10-3-6 |
| 20 |
Wingate University |
20 |
12-5-2 |
| 21 |
Fort Lewis College |
21 |
12-5-4 |
| 22 |
Tiffin University |
22 |
14-3-3 |
| 23 |
Southern Nazarene University |
23 |
14-5-2 |
| 24 |
McKendree University |
24 |
12-2-7 |
| 25 |
Millersville University |
25 |
14-3-3 |
Records shown are final 2023 records
Also receiving votes: Point Loma Nazarene University, California State University Monterey Bay, Lincoln Memorial University, West Chester University, Mississippi College, Lake Erie College, Fort Hays State University, Rogers State University, Colorado Mesa University