NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana was picked to finish second in the Red River Athletic Conference 2025 men's soccer preseason poll of the league's head coaches.
        The RRAC announced the poll Wednesday.
        XULA received 1-of-12 first-place votes and 130 points. LSU-Shreveport is first with 10 first-place votes and 140 points. LSU-Alexandria is third with one first-place vote and 114 points. Louisiana Christian is fourth with 110 points.
        XULA's returning players from last season include:
        •  Breno Zanolla, a 6-foot-3 senior goalkeeper who in 2024 was first-team All-RRAC, had eight shutouts and was second in the conference with a goals-against average of 0.99.
        •  Fabricio Reis, a 5-10 senior defender who was second-team All-RRAC.
        •  Matheus Moura, a 5-7 sophomore defender and an RRAC All-Freshman selection.
        •  Diego Pacheco, a 5-9 sophomore defender and an RRAC All-Freshman selection.
        •  Artur Rubim, a 5-10 junior forward who scored six goals this past season.
        The Gold Rush will open the regular season in south Florida: Aug. 21 at St. Thomas and Aug. 23 at Florida Memorial. The home opener will kick off at 7 p.m. Aug. 29 at Lafreniere Park in Metairie, La., against Mobile, No. 6 in the 2024 NAIA postseason coaches poll. Admission is free to all XULA soccer home games.
        XULA was 14-5-1 in 2024, including 11-2 in the Red River regular season to place second out of 14 teams. The Gold Rush earned an at-large bid to NAIA nationals, advanced to the second round and was among "others receiving votes" — tied for 34th with 17 points — in the postseason poll.

RRAC men's soccer 2025 coaches poll
1. LSU-Shreveport . . . 140 points, 10 first-place votes
2. XULA . . . 130 points, one first-place vote
3. LSU-Alexandria . . . 114 points, one first-place vote
4. Louisiana Christian . . . 110 points
5. Texas A&M-San Antonio . . . 95 points
6. Texas A&M-Texarkana . . . 74 points
7. Jarvis Christian . . . 67 points
8. Our Lady of the Lake . . . 64 points
9. Texas A&M-Victoria [formerly Houston-Victoria] . . . 60 points
10. Southwest (N.M.) . . . 38 points
11. North American . . . 30 points
12. Texas College . . . 14 points