LA MIRADA, Calif. --- One year after its best season in school history, the Biola University men's soccer team will begin the 2010 campaign ranked No. 8 in the NAIA Preseason Poll released on Tuesday afternoon.

The Eagles finished the 2009 season with a record of 13-5-4 and reached the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Tournament in Fresno. Biola also placed third in the GSAC with a 7-2-1 mark, its highest finish since 2002.

"I expected us to be high ranked after our season last year and with eight starters returning," said Head Coach Bryan Kuderman. "Now it's a matter of us proving that we belong up there and building consistency in our program."

Coming off the school's eighth men's soccer national championship, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) takes over at the No. 1 position in the rankings.  The Golden State Athletic Conference had the most teams in the top 25 with three. The Master's College, the defending conference champs and national runners-up, have earned the No. 2 ranking with Azusa Pacific University coming in at No. 13 overall. Vanguard University and Westmont College each received votes.

"Every year this conference is very strong," said Kuderman. "It would be foolish to say that we are ahead of others. On any day, any team in our conference could beat the other.

"I'm looking forward to the season and seeing how everything plays out," said Kuderman. "We have a tough schedule and some new players. Everyone is a year older and I am excited to watch them play. We are deeper than every before and I am pretty confident that anyone on our roster can play for us."

The Eagles open the season on Saturday (Aug. 21) with a scrimmage against NCAA Division II Cal Poly Pomona on Al Barbour Field beginning at 7:00 p.m. Biola's regular season open will come on Monday, August 30, as the Eagles host Trinity Western University (B.C.) at 7:00 p.m.