KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Tennessee Southern women's soccer team enters the 2025 season as one of the top programs in the nation, debuting at No. 6 in the NAIA Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Top 25 Poll, announced today by the national office.
The Firehawks are coming off a 19-3-1 campaign in 2024, a season highlighted by winning the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Regular Season Title and advancing to the NAIA quarterfinals in Pensacola, Fla. Head coach Will Austin's squad looks to build on that success and make another run at a national title in 2025.
UT Southern opens the new season on the road with a two-match swing, traveling to LSU Alexandria (La.) and Oakland City (Ind.) to begin their journey back to Pensacola.
Stat to know: The Firehawks were among the nation's most dominant offensive teams last year, finishing top three nationally in six major statistical categories, including shots, goals scored, shot percentage, shots per game, shots on goal, and assists.
SCAD Savannah (Ga.), the defending national champion, enters the season ranked No. 1 with 16 first-place votes, followed by Keiser (Fla.), College of Idaho, Columbia (Mo.), and William Carey (Miss.) rounding out the top five.
UT Southern Preseason Snapshot:
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Rank: No. 6
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2024 Record: 19-3-1
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2024 Highlight: Won SSAC Regular Season Title
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Opening Matches: Aug. 23 at LSU Alexandria, Aug. 27 at Oakland City
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National Impact: Top-three nationally in six offensive categories in 2024
The 2025 NAIA Women's Soccer Championship will once again be held in Pensacola, Fla., where the Firehawks aim to return and compete for the program's fourth Red Banner.
2025 NAIA Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Top 25 Poll
| Rank |
Institution |
2024 Record |
Points |
| 1 |
SCAD Savannah (Ga.) |
20-1-2 |
477 |
| 2 |
Keiser (Fla.) |
18-2-1 |
463 |
| 3 |
College of Idaho |
20-1-2 |
432 |
| 4 |
Columbia (Mo.) |
20-2-1 |
431 |
| 5 |
William Carey (Miss.) |
20-2-1 |
420 |
| 6 |
Tennessee Southern |
19-3-1 |
390 |
| 7 |
John Brown (Ark.) |
16-6-1 |
381 |
| 8 |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
18-1-0 |
370 |
| 9 |
Aquinas (Mich.) |
17-1-2 |
347 |
| 10 |
Spring Arbor (Mich.) |
17-4-0 |
315 |
| 11 |
Marian (Ind.) |
17-4-2 |
313 |
| 12 |
Missouri Valley |
15-5-1 |
296 |
| 13 |
Indiana Wesleyan |
14-5-2 |
273 |
| 14 |
Campbellsville (Ky.) |
18-2-1 |
265 |
| 15 |
MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) |
15-5-2 |
252 |
| 16 |
Oklahoma Wesleyan |
16-1-4 |
242 |
| 17 |
Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) |
15-3-3 |
211 |
| 18 |
Central Methodist (Mo.) |
16-4-1 |
205 |
| 19 |
Cumberland (Tenn.) |
12-6-2 |
191 |
| 20 |
Life (Ga.) |
14-5-1 |
162 |
| 21 |
Truett McConnell (Ga.) |
16-2-3 |
150 |
| 22 |
Georgia Gwinnett |
12-7-2 |
136 |
| 23 |
Science & Arts (Okla.) |
18-3-1 |
127 |
| 24 |
Northwestern Ohio |
14-4-4 |
106 |
| 25 |
The Master's (Calif.) |
15-5-1 |
62 |
Receiving Votes: St. Ambrose (Iowa) 57, Xavier (La.) 51, Hope International (Calif.) 43, Westcliff (Calif.) 37, Tennessee Wesleyan 26, Hastings (Neb.) 9, Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 8, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 8
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