Kansas City, Mo. - After their deepest postseason run in program history, the Central Methodist women's soccer program earned a No. 7 national ranking in the 2021 NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll, as announced by the national office Wednesday afternoon. 

Other Heart programs featured in the Top 25 Poll include No. 17 Baker, No. 21 Missouri Valley College, and No. 25 Benedictine College.

The Eagles finished the 2021 campaign with a 20-4-1 overall record and their first-ever trip to the national quarterfinals. The 20 wins were the second-most in the last 15 years in program history along with back-to-back regular season and conference tournament titles.  

Central returns three of its four NAIA All-America selections highlighted by Second Team All-American and Heart Defensive Player of the Year Laura Riesenbeck. The First Team All-Conference Selection was a key piece of the Eagles' backline that recorded an NAIA leading 16 shutouts. She is only the second player in program history to earn Second Team All-America honors.

Incoming sophomore Sandra Jakobsen was a welcome addition to the Eagles front line in 2020, as she was tabbed the Heart Freshman of the Year, a Heart First Team All-Conference performer, and an NAIA Second Time All-American. She finished her freshman campaign No. 5 in the nation in total points (55) No. 6 in total assists (15) and goals (20). For her remarkable run in the national tournament, Jakobsen was also named to the all-tournament team.

The final All-America returner from the Eagles is senior midfielder, Andrea Villar. The Madrid, Spain native was named an Honorable Mention All-American for the first time in her career. She was named a First Team All-Conference performer in 2020, setting new career highs in goals scored (8), assists (7), shots (78), and shots on goal (41).

As a team, Central finished the year leading the NAIA in several national statistical categories including No. 1 in Total Assists (86), Goals (105), and Total Shutouts (16). CMU was also No. 5 in the nation in Assists/Game (3.440), No. 6 in Goals/Game (4.200), and No. 10 in Shots on Goal/Game (11.440). 

The Eagles Open the 2021 campaign with a trip to Fulton, Mo. where they will square off against William Woods Wednesday, August 25 at 5:00 p.m. 

To view the poll methodology and the complete Top 25 Preseason Poll, please see below. 

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 on the ballot are not considered "receiving votes."
• For the complete ratings calendar, click here

2021-22 NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll – Preseason (August 11, 2021)

Dropped from Top 25: N/A

Others Receiving Votes: Northwestern Ohio 75, Georgia Gwinnett 71, Trinity Christian (Ill.) 49, Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 48, Middle Georgia State 46, Ottawa (Ariz.) 35, Kansas Wesleyan 20, Science & Arts (Okla.) 14, Vanguard (Calif.) 10, Truett McConnell (Ga.) 9, College of Idaho 6, The Master's (Calif.) 3.

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