KALAMAZOO, MI –– With another girls high school soccer season underway, teams from Southwest Michigan have wasted little time making an impact on the state’s scene. Now a month into the 2025 season, four Kalamazoo-area squads –– Portage Central, Gull Lake, Otsego and Kalamazoo Christian –– are already state ranked in the MIHSSCA polls, with several more making a strong push toward such recognition. That means it’s time to recognize those teams making serious noise with the first Kalamazoo-area girls soccer power rankings for the 2025 season. Check out which teams are on the rise, along with the complete first set of rankings below. 5 on the rise Portage Central After winning its fourth straight district championship last season, Portage Central has looked the part and remained one of Southwest Michigan’s dynamo soccer teams throughout the first month of the season. The Mustangs shutout their first five opponents, outscoring them by a combined 20-0 and staking claim in the top 10 of Division 1s state rankings. Central did drop a 2-0 contest to Stevensville Lakeshore last week but has bounced back with victories over Mattawan (2-1) and Kalamazoo Central (7-0) this week. Tied with Gull Lake for second in the SMAC race, the Mustangs have some ground to makeup if they want to catch first place Battle Creek Lakeview, which means their immediate schedule holds supreme importance. Central plays No. 6-ranked Troy on Saturday before at home before hosting Division 2 No. 4-ranked Gull Lake on Monday and crosstown rival Portage Northern on Wednesday. Loy Norrix suffered its first loss of the season on Wednesday to Gull Lake (0-3), but the Knights have still flown out to a fast start with victories in six of eight contests. Loy Norrix head coach Scott Forrester’s group mowed through Lake Odessa Lakewood, Parma Western, Battle Creek Pennfield and Kalamazoo Home School before drawing with Battle Creek Lakeview (2-2), a team that holds first place in the SMAC. The Knights have also picked up victories over St. Joseph and crosstown rival Kalamazoo Central, as they’ll kickoff a four-game homestand with a game against Sturgis on Friday. Despite two of its best players gone, Gull Lake hasn’t flinched –– the Blue Devils have remained one of Division 2s best teams through a month of the season. Senior midfielder Lilah Smith (injury) and senior forward Taygan Corstange (volleyball early enrollee) were pivotal for Jeff Corstange’s squad last year, but a young group behind them has stepped up and flexed their talents against some top competition. Sophomore forward scored the game-tying goal in the first half of Gull Lake’s eventual 1-all draw with state-ranked Byron Center last week, as the team kept that momentum going into victories over Stevensville Lakeshore (2-0) and Loy Norrix (3-0) this week. Tied for second in the SMAC standings, Gull Lake has a big state-ranked rivalry showdown with Portage Central on Monday before hosting both St. Joseph and East Grand Rapids later next week. The lone unbeaten left in the Kalamazoo-area, Otsego is off to a red-hot start with seven straight victories to start its season. The Division 2 No. 12-ranked Bulldogs have shutout their last five opponents, including blanking both Allegan and Kalamazoo Hackett at home. Otsego also picked up victories over Division 4 state-ranked Kalamazoo Christian and North Muskegon to start the year. Sitting tied atop the Wolverine Conference with rival Plainwell, Otsego will host SMAC-leading Battle Creek Lakeview on Friday before a conference week against Sturgis on Monday before a major showdown with Plainwell on Wednesday. Kalamazoo Christian After reaching the Division 4 state championship game for a third straight year, Kalamazoo Christian wasted no time beefing up its schedule this spring. The Comets dropped three of their first four games, but against top shelf competition including powerhouse Hudsonville Unity Christian and Division 2 state-ranked Otsego. K-Christian has since rallied to tie Division 4 No. 2-ranked Western Michigan Christian, knock off defending state champion Lumen Christi before settling in to earn convincing conference victories over Lawton and Parchment this week. Head coach Jay Allen’s group is currently ranked fifth in Division 4, but that could soon change with matchups against state-ranked Byron Center Zion Christian and conference foes Kalamazoo Hackett and Schoolcraft in the coming weeks. On the bubble: Lawton (6-1-0), Schoolcraft (3-2-0), Delton Kellogg (3-2-0), South Haven (3-4-0), Marcellus (5-1-1), Hartford (5-5-0) 10. Allegan (3-4-0) This week: Defeated Constantine (8-0), defeated Schoolcraft (3-1), Friday at Hopkins 9. Portage Northern (3-4-2) This week: Defeated Battle Creek Central (8-0), lost to Battle Creek Lakeview (0-6), Friday at Byron Center 8. Kalamazoo Hackett (7-2-0) This week: Defeated Delton Kellogg (4-0), defeated Olivet (5-0), Monday at Allegan 7. Kalamazoo Christian (4-3-1) This week: Defeated Lawton (8-0), defeated Parchment (11-0), Saturday vs. Byron Center Zion Christian 6. Plainwell (5-2-0) This week: Defeated Sturgis (8-0), defeated Paw Paw (2-0), Monday at Three Rivers 5. Loy Norrix (6-1-1) This week: Defeated Kalamazoo Central (3-0), lost to Gull Lake (0-3), Friday vs. Sturgis 4. Mattawan (5-2-1) This week: Lost to Portage Central (1-2), Saturday at Caledonia 3. Otsego (7-0-0) This week: Defeated Niles (8-0), defeated Edwardsburg (8-0), Friday vs. Battle Creek Lakeview 2. Gull Lake (9-1-1) This week: Defeated Stevensville Lakeshore (2-0), defeated Loy Norrix (3-0), Monday at Portage Central Portage Central (7-1-0) This week: Defeated Mattawan (2-1), defeated Kalamazoo Central (7-0), Saturday vs. Troy