RSC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll predicts Rio Grande (Ohio) on top again in 2019
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- The 2019 River States Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll has picked University of Rio Grande (Ohio) as the conference favorite this upcoming season. The poll was voted on by the 10 RSC men's soccer head coaches.
Rio Grande is coming off an incredible 2018 season that had the RedStorm post an overall record of 20-1 on the year. The RedStorm, which has won four of the last five RSC Championships, went a perfect 9-0 in the RSC regular season and won another conference tournament title. Rio Grande did not lose until the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Championship.
Rio Grande received 81 votes in the preseason poll and earned all nine of its possible first-place votes. WVU Tech was picked second in the poll with 73 votes and the remaining first-place vote. WVU Tech suffered a 4-3, overtime loss to Rio Grande in last year's RSC Championship finals and were 14-2-4 overall, 7-1-1 RSC.
Point Park (Pa.) University was picked third in the poll with 60 votes. The Pioneers went 10-6-1 overall, 5-3-1 RSC and are predicted this year in the same spot they finished 2018. Likewise, Asbury (Ky.) University was chosen fourth in the poll with 56 votes. The Eagles were 9-9-1 overall, 5-3-1 overall for fourth place last year. Continuing the trend was IU East taking fifth in the poll with 48 votes. The Red Wolves took fifth place last year at 10-10 overall, 5-4 RSC on their way to an RSC semifinals appearances.
Midway (Ky.) University was predicted sixth in the poll with 41 votes, and Brescia (Ky.) University was next in seventh place with 37 votes. Brescia (4-4-1 RSC) edged out Midway (4-5 RSC) for the final playoff spot last year and went on to win a quarterfinal game.
Cincinnati Christian University (24 votes), Ohio Christian University (18 votes) and Carlow (Pa.) University (12 votes) rounded out the preseason poll in eighth through 10th place.
2019 RIVER STATES CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES' POLL (AUG. 8, 2019)
(First-Place Votes in Parenthesis)
| School | Votes |
| 1. Rio Grande (Ohio) (9) | 81 |
| 2. WVU Tech (1) | 73 |
| 3. Point Park (Pa.) | 60 |
| 4. Asbury (Ky.) | 56 |
| 5. IU East | 48 |
| 6. Midway (Ky.) | 41 |
| 7. Brescia (Ky.) | 37 |
| 8. Cincinnati Christian | 24 |
| 9. Ohio Christian | 18 |
| 10. Carlow | 12 |