OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County Community College men's soccer team will open the season ranked among the top-20 in the country in both the United Soccer Coaches and National Junior College Athletic Association Preseason Polls. The Cavaliers were pegged as the No. 18 ranked team in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll that was released last week, and on Monday they were slotted in the No. 13 position in the NJCAA's D-II Men's Preseason Poll.
Defending NJCAA D-II national champion Iowa Lakes Community College is the preseason favorite in the NJCAA D-II Poll, followed by Phoenix College, Northeast Community College, Community College of Baltimore County-Essex and Pima Community College.
Neosho County Community College also earned a spot in the NJCAA D-II top 20, came in at No.19. The Panthers tied JCCC for the KJCCC D-II regular season title last year. The Cavaliers travel to Neosho County on September 11 and host the Panthers on October 5. Johnson County will also be tested early in the campaign when they host preseason No. 1 and defending national champion Iowa Lakes Community College on September 30.
Last year the Johnson County men's soccer season did not finish as they had hoped, but the Cavaliers still proved to be not only one of the top teams in the Kansas Jayhawk Conference, but also on a national level. Head coach Jeff Cole's team finished 11-5-3 overall, were conference champions for a second straight season and were ranked No. 15 in the final NJCAA D-II Poll.
Coach Cole returns 14 players from last year's squad, including seven all-conference and all-region performers, highlighted by midfielder Monty Almaliky and goalkeeper Brody Macoubrie, both first-team selections. Also back are second-team defenders Nick McTighe and Carson Schmitt and midfielders Dominic Zuniga, Brian Aleman and Gavin Hudnall.
Johnson County opens the 2024 regular season on the road against Cape Fear Community College August 23rd in Wilmington, N.C., followed by Wake Technical Community College on August 25th.