MIDWAY, Ky. - For the first time since 2018, River States Conference men's soccer coaches have predicted a top-five finish for Midway.

In a poll released Wednesday, the Eagles came in the No. 5 spot with 41 vote points, one more than projected No. 6 Saint Mary of the Woods.

Only once has a higher prediction been made for Midway, which was picked to finish in third in 2017. The Eagles also earned the fifth spot outright in 2016 while tying for it in 2018.

Rio Grande, which has won eight of the previous 11 conference titles, took the pole position almost unanimously, earning 81 points and all but one of the league's 10 first-place votes. 

The other first-place vote went to West Virginia Tech, which came in second with 70 vote points. Oakland City landed in third with 67 points with Shawnee State picked to finish fourth with 57.

Under the guidance of new head coach Stu Riddle, the Eagles start the new season on the road against Defiance (Ohio) on Aug. 30.