KANSAS CITY, MO – After stretching its winning streak to seven, the Francis Marion University men's soccer program leaped 11 spots to No. 7 in the latest United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Top 25 poll, which was released on Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 29).

The Patriots are back inside the Top 10 nationally for the first time in seven years, as the 2019 squad spent three weeks ranked #7 overall. It matches the highest national ranking for Francis Marion in the eight-year tenure of head coach Luis Rincon, as the Patriots currently hold an impressive 8-1-1 record in 2026.

Francis Marion will return to the pitch tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 30, for a divisional matchup against Ferrum College, with kickoff set for 4:30 p.m. The Patriots will also travel to Banner Elk, N.C., to face Lees-McRae College in league competition on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 1:30 p.m.

Additionally, the Patriots advanced two spots in the Southeast Region rankings to #1, while Anderson University (S.C.) and the University of North Georgia round out the top three.

The Patriots feature one of the most balanced offenses in Division II, with 16 different players recording a point, including nine individuals with three or more points this season. FMU currently ranks second in the country with 24 total assists, while ranking inside the top 10 in shots per game (17.70) and shots on goal per game (8.50). Additionally, the Francis Marion defense has been stellar, tallying five clean sheets while sitting inside the top 20 nationally with a .500 shutout percentage and a .700 team goals-against average.

Individually, junior forward Jose Coutinho is in a four-way tie for first in NCAA Division II with four game-winning goals. He also holds the best shot accuracy in the nation (.762). Coutinho (5G, 2A) and senior forward Lucas Vila (4G, 2A) both have double-digit points in 2026, while senior forward Volkan Celikkol ranks second in the Conference Carolinas with four assists.