Kansas City, Mo. - After wrapping up their third straight regular season conference championship this fall, the Central Methodist men's soccer team retained its No. 1 national ranking, announced by the NAIA office Wednesday morning. 

The Eagles, who have claimed back-to-back NAIA National Championships, recieved all 18 first place votes. Oklahoma Wesleyan, comes in this spring at No. 2, holding a perfect 12-0 record. Rounding out the Top 5 programs include: No. 3 William Carey (Miss.), No. 4 Columbia College, and fellow Heart member, No. 5 Missouri Valley. 

Also featured in the Top 25 from the Heart are No. 17 MidAmerica Nazarene and (RV) William Penn. 

Central is on an impressive three year stretch, compiling a 58-3 record and winning 32 consecutive games dating back to September of 2019. The 32 games won are the third most in NAIA history, trailing only Lindsey Wilson (33, 9/3/2011-9/25/2012) and Hastings (39, 9/4/2010-10/18/2011). 

CMU is ranked in the Top 15 in numerous national statistical categories including, No. 2 in total shutouts (7), No. 5 in goals (5), and No. 6 in assists (37). 

The Eagles also boast the 2020 Heart Conference Defensive Player of the Year and the Freshman of the Year, Tom Irion. Irion led the Eagles with nine goals scored in 12 starts, and anchored the defensive backline to an NAIA leading seven shutouts, holding their opponents to .079 shots/game. Irion is also No. 4 in the nation with four game-winning goals. 

The Eagles have begun their title defense with an impressive 4-1 victory over NCAA DI Creighton University back on Feb. 24 in Omaha in an exhibition contest. CMU opens regular season play with a trip to the NCAA DI member Central Arkansas, Friday March 5 at 5:00 p.m. in Conway, Ark. 

To view the complete NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Top-25 Poll, please click here.

Poll Methodology

• The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, Association of Independent Institutions and Unaffiliated Groups.
• The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second-place and so on through the list.
• The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) is removed and the team's ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the teams appear on.
• Teams that receive only one point in the ballot are not considered "receiving votes."
• For the complete men's soccer ratings calendar, click here.

2020-21 NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll – Poll No. 1 (March 3, 2021)

Others Receiving Votes: St. Thomas (Fla.) 74, Reinhardt (Ga.) 71, Grace (Ind.) 71, Vanguard (Calif.) 59, Bethel (Ind.) 42, Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 39, Campbellsville (Ky.) 28, William Penn (Iowa) 26, Madonna (Mich.) 25, Ottawa (Ariz.) 23, LSU Shreveport (La.) 21, Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) 18, Southwestern Christian (Okla.) 13, Houston-Victoria (Texas) 3

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