The Baker University men’s and women’s soccer teams each placed within the top 10 of the Heart of America Conference preseason coaches’ poll.

The men’s team received 141 points to take the No. 5 spot ahead of Benedictine with 116 points. William Penn took No. 1 with 188 points and nine first-place votes followed by Missouri Valley (184 points, five first-place votes), MidAmerica Nazarene (172 points) and Clarke (145 points).

The Wildcats finished the 2024-25 season with a 13-8-1 record overall and 5-5-1 for the conference. Four of their losses for the season came against William Penn, Missouri Valley and Clarke, but they notched a pair of wins against MidAmerica Nazarene, including a 2-1 victory at the conference quarterfinals.

The Baker women came in seventh in their poll with 104.02 points, followed by Mount Mercy with 85.96 points.

The Missouri Valley women’s team led the pack with 195.02 points and 13 first-place votes, followed by Central Methodist (175.98, one first-place vote), MidAmerica Nazarene (168.98), Benedictine (154.98), Clarke (144.06) and Culver-Stockton (119).

The Baker women finished the 2024-25 season with a 5-11-2 record overall and 3-6-2 in the conference, including a win against Culver-Stockton on Sept. 21.

The Baker women are scheduled to continue their 2025 season at 5:30 p.m. Thursday against Avila (Mo.) in Baldwin City. The men will follow there against McPherson at 8 p.m.