NAPERVILLE — The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) announced its 2025 men's soccer preseason Coaches' Poll on Wednesday, with Carthage College picked sixth with 28 points.

The Firebirds, led by head coach Paul Leese in his fourth season, open the season on the road at Marian (Wis.) on Friday, Aug. 29. Carthage then returns to Kenosha for its home opener against Wisconsin-Platteville on Sunday, Aug. 31, at 5 p.m. at Art Keller Field.

A neutral-site match against Gustavus Adolphus on Friday, Sept. 5, in De Pere, Wis., begins a two-match weekend, followed by taking on St. Norbert on Sunday, Sept. 7. Carthage continues its road stretch with trips to Loras on Sept. 19 and Dubuque on Sept. 21.

Conference play opens Saturday, Sept. 27, at Millikin, followed by a nonconference trip to UChicago on Sept. 30. The Firebirds' CCIW home opener is Saturday, Oct. 4, against Illinois Wesleyan at 7 p.m., followed by another conference home match versus Carroll (Wis.) on Oct. 8.

Carthage hosts Wisconsin-Whitewater in nonconference action on Oct. 12 before traveling to Wheaton (Ill.) on Oct. 15. The Firebirds then return home for back-to-back CCIW matchups against North Central (Ill.) on Oct. 18 and Augustana (Ill.) on Oct. 22.

The regular season concludes with a road trip to Elmhurst on Oct. 25 and a visit to North Park on Oct. 29.