ROLLA, Mo. – The Great Lakes Valley Conference released its pre-season rankings for the 2024 men's soccer season on Wednesday morning and Missouri S&T was picked to finish eighth in the league race for the upcoming year.

The Miners are coming off a season in which they qualified for the GLVC Tournament as the eighth seed as they went 5-7-5 overall and 4-4-4 in conference play, then came within 29 seconds of knocking off top-seeded Maryville in the opening round of the conference tournament.  The Saints scored the game-tying goal in the waning moments and advanced past S&T in a penalty kick shootout before going on to eventually win the tournament title and reach the NCAA Division II quarterfinals.

Maryville was picked to win the conference championship this season, receiving nine of the 14 first place votes from the league coaches, while the race for the next three spots was separated by just two points.  Indianapolis was picked to finish second, one point ahead of Illinois Springfield and two in front of Lewis.  Drury was picked fifth in the poll.

Missouri S&T defeated UIndy in the regular season finale last season and also played to draws with Illinois Springfield and Drury during the campaign, while also knocking off a McKendree team that was picked seventh behind Rockhurst and just ahead of the Miners.  S&T received 20 more points than Missouri-St. Louis, who was tabbed for ninth place.

The Miners return one All-GLVC performer from last season in Sigurd Semlitsch (Oslo, Norway/Stabekk Videregaaende Skole), who scored seven goals during the year, as well as 10 other players who scored goals over the course of the year.  Robert Suellentrop (Fenton, MO/Rockwood Summit) had three goals on the season, while Jimmy Sanchez (St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell Central) scored twice and also shared the team lead with four assists.  Goalkeeper Davis Joseph (Andover, KS/Andover Central), who started all 17 games and was credited with 56 saves, also returns to the mix this fall.

Missouri S&T has a pair of exhibition contests this weekend, including one with Washington University Friday at 8 p.m. at Allgood-Bailey Stadium, before opening its 2024 slate August 31 at Rogers State.  The Miners' home opener will take place Sept. 8 against Kentucky Wesleyan and the GLVC schedule opens a week later at Quincy.

2023 GLVC MEN'S SOCCER PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL
1. Maryville, 158 points (9 first place votes)
2. Indianapolis, 147 points (1 first place vote)
3. Illinois Springfield, 146 points (1 first place vote)
4. Lewis, 145 points (2 first place votes)
5. Drury, 125 points (1 first place vote)
6. Rockhurst, 105 points
7. McKendree, 93 points
8. Missouri S&T, 87 points
9. Missouri-St. Louis, 67 points
10. Truman State, 59 points
11. Quincy, 52 points
12. William Jewell, 46 points
13. Upper Iowa, 24 points
14. Southwest Baptist, 20 points