OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County Community College men's soccer team will open the 2025 season ranked among the nation's top 10 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Preseason Poll. The Cavaliers were tabbed No. 9 team in the NJCAA Division II Men's Soccer Preseason Poll and No. 17 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll.

Defending national champion Northeast Community College is the preseason favorite in the NJCAA D-II Poll, followed by Neosho County Community College, Iowa Lakes Community College, Pima Community College and CCBC Essex.

Under head coach Jeff Cole, the Cavaliers have been ranked in every NJCAA D-II poll (21 straight) since moving to Division II in 2023, earning Top-10 recognition in 14 of those polls. This year's preseason No. 9 mark is the program's highest under Cole.

The 2025 schedule will be challenging, featuring five preseason Top-25 opponents and another that received votes. JCCC opens at No. 12 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College on Friday, Aug. 22, followed by a trip to No. 8 Pearl River Community College two days later. The Cavaliers' home opener is Sunday, Aug. 31, against Southeastern Community College (No. 19 in the USC poll), followed by a Sept. 7 home match against No. 3 Iowa Lakes. They will also face No. 2 Neosho County twice in a home-and-home series, and travel to St. Louis Community College (received votes) on Sept. 17.

The Cavaliers are coming off a 14-4-0 season and final No. 8 ranking, with three of those loses against Neosho County. Their other setback was to a nationally ranked Iowa Lakes program.

Cole returns 10 players from last year's squad highlighted by All-Region 6 and All-Kansas Jayhawk Conference D-II forward Tanner Poirier. He has added 19 newcomers to the roster including transfer forward Tyler Beckford from Hesston College. Beckford was also an All-Region 6 and All-KJCCC D-II selection last year.