KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The High Point University men's soccer team has been ranked No. 23 in the United Soccer Coaches rankings, which was announced by the association on Tuesday.

The United Soccer Coaches poll is the official NCAA.com poll of all Division I men's soccer. Additionally, the Panthers were ranked No. 17 in the College Soccer News rankings and No. 20 in the TopDrawerSoccer rankings.

The Panthers have been nationally ranked in a Big South Conference leading 17 straight United Soccer Coaches' polls, including 20 consecutive regular-season weeks since 2024.

HPU has been one of the nation's top-ranked squads since October 15, 2024. On October 28, 2024, HPU earned its highest ranking at No. 11 ranking before rising as high as No. 5 on October 7, 2025. 

HPU jumpstarted 2026 with a demanding 5-2 victory over Long Island University and followed it up with a thrilling 3-2 win over No. 11 Virginia. It was the Panthers' first win over UVA since the 1940s, marking the first in the DI era to earn HPU's first ranked win in 2026.

The Panthers were edged by No. 4 Maryland in a top-10 showdown, 1-0, with the equalizing goal being took off the board due to a foul. It was as close as it gets in college soccer.
HPU tied VCU, 1-1, before falling to No. 13 South Carolina on the road Monday, 2-0. The Panthers hit the road again for a Sweet Sixteen rematch at No. 4 Georgetown on Friday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.

In the Haines Era, HPU has been ranked seven out of his eight years (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, & 2026) with the Panthers receiving votes in 2023. The Panthers have never shied away from a tough schedule, ending 2025 at No. 15 in the RPI and No. 16 in the rankings.

Over the years, High Point has defeated: No. 1 Pittsburgh, No. 7 Maryland, #17 Elon, North Carolina, West Virginia, Duke, No. 14/25 Georgetown, No. 25 Coastal Carolina and now No. 11 Virginia. The Panthers have earned quality results in draws with No. 2 Georgetown in 2022, while tying No. 10 Marshall and No. 10 West Virginia in 2025.
 
 
2026 Rankings
TopDrawerSoccer (TDS)
United Soccer Coaches (USC)
College Soccer News (CSN)

Preseason: #16 (USC), #13 (CSN), #9 (TDS)
Week 1: #9 (USC), #7 (CSN), #7 (TDS)
Week 2: #14 (USC), #8 (CSN), #12 (TDS)
Week 3: #23 (USC), #17 (CSN), #20 (TDS)