WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll was released on Tuesday and defending national champion Midwestern State begins the season as the No. 1 team in the nation.

Midwestern State closed out the 2025 season with an 11-game winning streak, including a 2-0 victory over Rollins in the National Championship game at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Dec. 14.

The Mustangs were 19-3-3 last season with an 8-2-0 record in the Lone Star Conference, winning the regular season championship and the postseason tournament title.

Midwestern State was 7-3-1 on home soil last season and was 7-0-2 in true road games. The Mustangs were 5-0-0 in games played at neutral sites.

Among the 23 players returning this season is United Soccer Coaches All-American Parker Plaxco, who led the team with 13 goals and 31 points last year.

Goalkeeper Jake Morris is also back this season after posting a 13-2-2 record last season with a 0.63 goals-against average in 18 appearances, including 17 starts. Morris posted 11 clean sheets last season.

Midwestern State is the only Lone Star Conference team in the preseason top 25, but the Mustangs are scheduled to play No. 18 UCCS at Mountain Lion Stadium on Sept. 4. Western Oregon is receiving votes and will face MSU in Salem, Oregon, on Sept. 17.

The Mustangs begin the season against Cal State East Bay in Richardson, Texas, on Aug. 27 and will play four matches before their home opener against Southern Nazarene on Sept. 10 at 7 p.m.