The UIS men's soccer team was picked 13th in the 2026 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) preseason coaches' poll, announced Wednesday by the conference office.

Lincoln was selected as the preseason favorite, receiving six first-place votes and 192 points. Rockhurst also earned six first-place votes and was picked second with 180 points, while Maryville received two first-place votes and 166 points to rank third. Indianapolis was the only other team to receive a first-place vote, earning one and finishing fifth with 158 points.

The Prairie Stars enter the 2026 season under third-year head coach Graham Shaw, who has guided the program through its transition into a new group of contributors. UIS returns a strong core of players who saw significant minutes last season, along with a group of newcomers expected to contribute at a high level.

Senior leadership will be an important part of the Prairie Stars' season, with Mitch Olenick among the team's returning veterans. UIS also brings back leading scorer Robin Lemke Bergseth, who earned GLVC Freshman of the Year honors following his first season with the program.

The Prairie Stars will begin the regular season at home Thursday, hosting Alabama Huntsville at 4:00 p.m. at Kiwanis Stadium. UIS will then open GLVC play Saturday, Sept. 5, against preseason favorite Lincoln at 5:30 p.m. The match will also serve as Senior Day for the Prairie Stars.

The 2026 GLVC men's soccer preseason poll was selected by the league's head coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own team.

GLVC Release