KANSAS CITY, MO - The Clayton State Lakers have been ranked #5 in the nation in the United Soccer Coaches preseason Top 25. The Flagler Saints are also receiving votes.
Clayton State closed out the 2024 season ranked #5 with just one change to the Top 25 lineup.
The Lakers closed out the 2024 season with a 13-4-4 record. The Lakers took home their second PBC Regular Season title in a row. They also earned their second consecutive NCAA Tournament bid, where they defeated Converse in penalty kicks in the First Round folliwng a late equalizer, upset #1 Limestone in overtime in the Sweet Sixteen before falling in overtime to Lynn in the Elite Eight.
The Lakers led the PBC in several categories in the 2024 season with shots, shots on goal, assists and saves while also having the lowest goals against average in the conference. The Lakers also shared a fiery offense with the top three goal scorers and top two playmakers in the conference with Alex Rodriguez(11 goals, 8 assists, 30 points), Alexis Iturria(6 goals, 14 assists, 26 points) and Fallah Johnson(8 goals). Goalkeeper Mauricio Uribe boasted a 0.872 goals against average on the year to lead the conference.
Clayton State opens their season with a trip to Nova Southeastern on September 4th at 7:30pm.
NATIONAL - PRE-SEASON POLL - JULY 31, 2025
| Rank |
School |
Prev |
W-L-T |
| 1 |
Lynn University |
1 |
20-0-2 |
| 2 |
University of Charleston |
2 |
22-2-1 |
| 3 |
Colorado State University-Pueblo |
3 |
17-4-3 |
| 4 |
McKendree University |
4 |
16-1-7 |
| 5 |
Clayton State University |
5 |
13-4-4 |
| 6 |
Fort Lewis College |
6 |
14-4-6 |
| 7 |
Saginaw Valley State University |
7 |
13-6-2 |
| 8 |
Felician University |
8 |
17-4-2 |
| 9 |
Coker University |
9 |
15-3-1 |
| 10 |
Midwestern State University |
10 |
15-3-3 |
| 11 |
California State University-Los Angeles |
11 |
12-3-6 |
| 12 |
Franklin Pierce University |
13 |
12-3-5 |
| 13 |
University of West Florida |
14 |
12-3-4 |
| 14 |
Tiffin University |
15 |
14-6-1 |
| 15 |
Post University |
16 |
13-5-4 |
| 16 |
University of Findlay |
17 |
12-4-5 |
| 17 |
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs |
18 |
14-3-4 |
| 18 |
Cal Poly Pomona |
19 |
14-2-7 |
| 19 |
Southern New Hampshire University |
20 |
14-2-3 |
| 20 |
Rogers State University |
21 |
9-5-7 |
| 21 |
Auburn University Montgomery |
22 |
11-3-6 |
| 22 |
Western Oregon University |
23 |
14-5-1 |
| 23 |
Fort Hays State University |
24 |
13-4-4 |
| 24 |
California State University-Dominguez Hills |
25 |
10-5-6 |
| 25 |
Converse University |
RV |
9-1-9 |
Records shown are final 2024 records.
Also receiving votes: Bloomsburg University, Gannon University, Concord University, Lewis University, Mars Hill University, Maryville University of St. Louis, University of the District of Columbia, Southern Nazarene University, Davenport University, Point Loma Nazarene University, Westmont College, Flagler College, Francis Marion University