Lindenwood Lions dominate the 2026 OVC preseason poll
The Ohio Valley Conference released its preseason poll for men’s soccer, and the Lindenwood Lions emerged as the clear favorite, earning 11 of the 16 first‑place votes and a total of 94 points. Their nearest rivals, HCU and SIUE, tied for second with 80 points each, while the rest of the league trailed with scores ranging from 46 to 36.
Lindenwood’s ascent is built on a historic 2025 campaign that saw the program capture a Division I era record of 14 wins, three losses and four ties. That performance not only secured the Lions’ first ever berth in the NCAA Division I National Tournament, it also set a new standard for the university’s soccer ambitions.
At the heart of the team’s attack is forward Luca Bartoni, who was named a Player to Watch for the upcoming season. In 2025 he contributed seven goals and five assists, finishing with 19 points and earning both the OVC Forward of the Year and the OVC Tournament MVP honors in his rookie year with the Lions.
The Lions will open their 2026 schedule on August 20 at 7 p.m., hosting Chicago State at Hunter Stadium. The matchup marks the first test of a roster that hopes to translate preseason optimism into on‑field dominance.
Other conference teams received modest point totals: Eastern Illinois gathered 52 points, UTRGV 46, UIW 42, Western Illinois 36 and Southern Indiana 18, indicating a tightly contested league race heading into the fall.