The University of the Incarnate Word men's soccer team earned four first-place votes from the sports information directors of the Heartland Conference in the 2009 Men's Soccer Preseason Poll.

 

UIW finished the 2008 season with a 13-7-0 record (8-2-0 in conference) and earned a spot into the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament. This season, head coach John Smith has 19 returning players.

 

Receiving three first-place votes was St. Edward's University, which finished 13-4-2 last season, including a split with UIW – both teams losing games at home.

 

Because of the point system involved with voting, St. Edward's and Incarnate Word start out the 2009 season tied at the top of the poll.

 

Finishing up the remaining schools in the poll are Texas A&M International University (one first-place vote), St. Mary's University, Texas-Permian Basin and Newman University.

 

The Cardinals start the 2009 soccer season with a home game against Midwestern State University (the team that knocked UIW out of the playoffs last season, 2-1 in overtime) on Friday, August 28 at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.

 

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.