NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Carthage men's soccer was picked to finish sixth in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) preseason coaches poll, as the Firebirds prepare for the 2026 season.

Wheaton (Ill.) and North Central (Ill.) shared the top spot in the preseason poll, each receiving 57 points and three first-place votes. North Park followed in third with 54 points and two first-place votes, while Illinois Wesleyan was fourth with 44 points and one first-place vote.

Carroll (Wis.) was picked fifth with 33 points, followed by Carthage with 32. Augustana, Millikin, and Elmhurst rounded out the poll.

The 2026 season marks the first campaign for Mike Madigan at the helm of the Carthage men's soccer program. Madigan was recently hired as the program's head coach on March 25 and will lead the Firebirds into a challenging nonconference slate before beginning CCIW play in late September.

Carthage opens the season at home against Marian on September 1 at Art Keller Field. The Firebirds will then travel to Chicago to face Illinois Institute of Technology on September 3 before returning home to host Ohio Northern on September 6.

The Firebirds' nonconference schedule also features road contests at Wisconsin Lutheran and Wisconsin-Whitewater, as well as home matches against St. Olaf and UChicago.

Carthage opens CCIW play September 23 against Elmhurst at Art Keller Field. The Firebirds will host Millikin on September 26 before traveling to Carroll (Wis.) on September 30.

The CCIW schedule continues with home matches against Loras and North Central (Ill.), along with road contests at North Park, Wheaton (Ill.), and Augustana. Carthage will also host Illinois Wesleyan on October 21.

The Firebirds close the regular season at home against Wisconsin-Stevens Point on October 27.