WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — The West Liberty University men's soccer team has opened the 2026 season with a 2-0 record and is ranked No. 8 in the first United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Poll of the season, released Tuesday.

The Hilltoppers earned their regional ranking after opening the season with a pair of road victories. West Liberty rallied past Daemen, 3-2, on Aug. 27 in Amherst, N.Y., before posting a 2-0 shutout at Chestnut Hill on Sunday in Lafayette Hill, Pa. The two wins give the Hilltoppers a perfect 2-0 mark heading into their home opener.

West Liberty will return to the Hilltop on Wednesday, Sept. 9, when Point Park visits the West Family Athletic Complex for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The match will mark the Hilltoppers' first home appearance of the season and their first Mountain East Conference contest.

Bloomsburg tops the Atlantic Region poll at No. 1 with a 2-0 record, followed by Davis & Elkins, Charleston, Gannon, Seton Hill, California (Pa.), Millersville, West Liberty, Concord and East Stroudsburg.



West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.