MARION, Ind. -- Indiana Wesleyan University women's soccer opens the 2010 season ranked No. 10 in the NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top-25 Preseason Poll, which was released Tuesday evening.

The top-10 ranking in the preseason poll is the highest start to a season for the women's soccer program. Last year the Wildcats were the No. 16 ranked team in the initial poll and climbed as high as No. 9 in the nation, tied for the highest ranking in program history.

Lee (Tenn.) University sits atop the poll with 20-of-22 first place votes and 621 points and Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) University is second with 586 points. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College received the final two first place votes and is fourth with 569 points. Indiana Wesleyan tallied 430 points in the ranking.

Last season, Indiana Wesleyan tied with Marian (Ind.) University for the Mid-Central College Conference regular season championship, the 11th in the past 12 years. IWU defeated Marian 2-0 in the MCC Tournament championship match to earn the conference's automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship.

Indiana Wesleyan hosted Houghton (N.Y.) College in the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Opening Round and defeated the visitors 2-0 to advance to the National Championship final site of 16 in Decatur, Alabama. IWU lost 2-1 in the round of 16 to eventual semifinalist Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University.

The Wildcats' schedule this year is littered with top-25 opponents, including three in the top-10.

Indiana Wesleyan hosts No. 4-ranked Lindsey Wilson on August 31 at Wildcat Field. Mid-September will be a pivotal week for Indiana Wesleyan with a pair of highly ranked opponents in a three day stretch. IWU will play at two-time defending national champion and No. 1-ranked Lee on September 16. Indiana Wesleyan will remain in Cleveland, Tennessee and play No. 9-ranked William Carey (Miss.) University on September 18.

In MCC action, the Wildcats host No. 16-ranked Marian on October 6 in a critical conference match. The Wildcats will travel to Spring Arbor (Mich.) University on September 28 in the conference opener and also play at Grace (Ind.) College on October 23. Spring Arbor and Grace each received votes in the poll.

IWU opens the season at home on August 28 against Bethel (Tenn.) University at Wildcat Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

CLICK HERE for NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top-25 Preseason Poll