WALESKA, Ga. – The men's soccer program at the University of Pikeville is expected to be drastically improved this season, and proof of that came on Thursday when the Appalachian Athletics Conference released its preseason coaches poll.
 
After finishing 11^th last season and narrowly missing the playoffs, the Bears are tabbed for a seventh-place finish this season in the 13-team league.
 
There was a tie atop the poll, as defending league champion Union Commonwealth University and Milligan (Tenn.) University each received five first-place votes and 146 voting points.
 
Union Commonwealth finished 11-0-1 in the AAC a year ago, while Milligan was second at 9-0-3.
 
Bryan (Tenn.) College picked up two first-place votes and 132 points to finish third, while Truett McConnell (Ga.) and Columbia International (S.C.) round out the top five.
 
Tennessee Wesleyan is sixth, followed by the Bears and Reinhardt (Ga.), which were tied for seventh with 68 ratings points.
 
UPike was 2-8-2 in the conference last season under first-year coach Oliver Hewitt-Fisher. He has coached three teams to the NAIA national tournament in his career, which undoubtedly lends to the increased expectations.
 
The Bears will open the 2025 campaign on August 22 when they host Georgetown College. The match will be played at 7 p.m. at Bob Amos Park.
 
The preseason poll, in its entirety, is as follows:
 
School (First-Place Votes) - Total Voting Points
T1. Union Commonwealth (5) - 146
T1. Milligan (5) - 146
3. Bryan (2) - 132
4. Truett McConnell - 113
5. Columbia International - 104
6. Tennessee Wesleyan - 94
T7. UPike - 68
T7. Reinhardt - 68
9. Johnson - 63
10. Montreat - 60
11. Spartanburg Methodist - 50
12. Columbia - 35
13. Bluefield - 13