University of Central Oklahoma

KANSAS City, Kan. (Aug. 12) – A decade of success and last year’s run to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 has earned Central Oklahoma a top-10 ranking in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas preseason poll that was released Tuesday.

The return of just three starters and four other letterwinners from last year’s 19-5-1 team didn’t matter to voters, who put UCO 10th in the top-25 poll. Tampa topped the rankings, followed by Franklin Pierce and Grand Valley State.

Incarnate Word, which knocked the Bronchos out of the national tournament last year, was No. 6 in the poll. UCO, which has won four straight regular-season Lone Star Conference titles and six of the last eight, was the lone league team in the rankings.

“It’s an honor to be ranked so high, but obviously this is a reflection of the success we’ve had over the past several years,” said head coach Mike Cook, who is 161-48-9 in the 10-year history of the program. “We’re a very young team that has a lot to prove this year and we’re going to have to make a lot of improvement to get to where we need to be.”

The Bronchos, who finished 11th in the final poll last year, opened preseason practice Sunday and are in the midst of a week of two-a-day workouts. UCO opens the season Aug. 28, hosting Oklahoma Christian at 7 p.m. at Wantland Stadium.

Click here for the entire poll.