University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gopher Soccer Falls to #19
9/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Kansas City, Kans. - The University of Minnesota soccer team has dropped to No. 19 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top-25 poll, announced today (Sept. 1).
Heading into the season's third week, the Golden Gophers stand at 2-1-0 overall. Minnesota falls two spots from No. 17 where they began last week. On Aug. 28, they fell 2-0 on the road to then No. 16 Georgia, but rebounded to beat Kennesaw State 1-0, snapping an 11-match home non-conference winning streak for KSU.
The Golden Gophers have been ranked in all three NSCAA Top-25 Polls this season which is something only accomplished once in team history. The 1995 season was the only other time Minnesota opened the season in three straight polls, with that team going wire-to-wire in the top-25. In 1997, Minnesota was ranked in the first two top-25 polls, but fell out for two weeks before returning and finishing the season ranked #11.
Minnesota claimed 157 points, just ahead of #20 Oklahoma with 154 points and #21 Utah with 153 points. No. 1 North Carolina collected 32 of a possible 33 first place votes and 824 total points to pace the field. No. 5 Florida State earned the only other first place vote. Illinois is the highest ranking Big Ten team, landing at No. 11 with 466 points. Penn State fell from No. 8 last week and comes in at No. 13, just ahead of No. 14 Purdue. Purdue is the highest mover in the poll, as they were unranked last week.
The Golden Gophers extend their streak to nine straight weeks in the NSCAA Top-25, which dates back to last season.
Also announced today, were the NSCAA regional rankings, which saw Minnesota ranked for the season straight week. The Golden Gophers came in at No. 7 in the Great Lakes Region after first appearing at No. 4 last week. Purdue is No. 1 regionally, heading of a quartet of Big Ten teams at the top, including No. 2 Illinois, No. 3 Penn State and No. 4 Michigan State. Indiana at No. 6 and Ohio State at No. 9 also represent the Big Ten in the Great Lakes Region Poll.
This weekend Minnesota hosts Tennessee at 7:00 p.m. on Sept. 4 and North Dakota State at 2:00 p.m. on Sept. 6.
NSCAA Top-25 Poll
No. School
1. North Carolina
2. Notre Dame
3. Portland
4. Stanford
5. Florida State
6. Florida
7. West Virginia
8. Virginia
9. UCLA
10. Texas A&M
11. Illinois
12. San Diego
13. Penn State
14. Purdue
15. Colorado
16. Boston College
17. Wake Forest
18. Georgia
19. Minnesota
20. Oklahoma State
21. Utah
22. Santa Clara
23. Missouri
24. Duke
25. St. John's
NSCAA Great Lakes Region Poll
No. School
1. Purdue
2. Illinois
3. Penn State
4. Michigan State
5. Wisconsin-Milwaukee
6. Indiana
7. Minnesota
8. Toledo
9. Ohio State
10. Creighton
