KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two teams from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) were ranked in the Top 20 in the latest edition of the
STADIONIC NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Poll, the national office announced Wednesday.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University was ranked No. 1 for the second consecutive poll, earning 14 of a possible 17 first-place votes. Ottawa University joined them in the Top 20, moving up two spots to No. 16.
TOP FIVE CAPSULES
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan (3-0-1)
OKWU received 14 first-place votes and remained atop the poll for the second consecutive week after defeating No. 13 John Brown (Ark.), 4-0, last Saturday. This week, they challenge Evangel (Mo.) on Wednesday and Sterling (Kan.) on Saturday. Their offense has been balanced, with three players totaling three goals each and two others adding two goals apiece.
2. Indiana Tech (6-1-1)
Indiana Tech faces another ranked opponent Wednesday when it takes on Grace (Ind.), looking to extend its three-game winning streak. The matchup marks the Warriors’ third ranked contest of the season, with Indiana Tech already holding ranked wins over Bethel (Ind.) and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.). The Warriors enter the matchup after recently defeating Huntington (Ind.), 2-1, and Marian (Ind.), 2-0.
3. Cumberland (Tenn.) (5-0-2)
The Phoenix remain unbeaten on the season with a 5-0-2 record after challenging two ranked opponents and two others receiving votes in the coaches’ poll. They jumped from No. 6 to No. 3 in the latest edition of the rankings. This week, they battle Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) and SCAD-Savannah (Ga.) on Friday and Sunday.
4. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) (3-1-1)
MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) went unbeaten in two matches last week, recording shutouts against No. 6 Georgia Gwinnett and St. Ambrose (Iowa). Against the Fighting Bees, the Pioneers put up a season-high 11 goals. Lennart Fischer was named the PrestoSports NAIA Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in net. MNU is 3-1-1 on the season and returns to action Wednesday at Benedictine (Kan.).
5. William Carey (Miss.) (6-0-1)
The Crusaders popped into the top five this week after previously being ranked No. 8 in the last edition, and No. 20 before that. William Carey (Miss.) is unbeaten on the season with a 6-0-1 record. The Crusader offense has been a powerhouse, compiling a total of 29 goals on the season, while allowing only three. Up next, they will face Mobile (Ala.) on Thursday and No. 22 Faulkner (Ala.) on Saturday.
FULL TOP 25 RANKINGS
| RANK |
LAST TIME |
INSTITUTION [FIRST-PLACE VOTES] |
RECORD |
| 1 |
1 |
Oklahoma Wesleyan [14] |
3-0-1 |
| 2 |
3 |
Indiana Tech [1] |
6-1-1 |
| 3 |
T-6 |
Cumberland (Tenn.) |
5-0-2 |
| 4 |
5 |
MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) [1] |
3-1-1 |
| 5 |
8 |
William Carey (Miss.) |
6-0-1 |
| 6 |
2 |
Georgia Gwinnett |
4-1-1 |
| 7 |
9 |
Life (Ga.) |
5-1-1 |
| 8 |
15 |
Rio Grande (Ohio) [1] |
4-0-1 |
| 9 |
4 |
William Penn (Iowa) |
2-0-3 |
| 10 |
10 |
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) |
4-2 |
| 11 |
11 |
Keiser (Fla.) |
2-1 |
| 12 |
21 |
Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) |
4-0-1 |
| 13 |
13 |
John Brown (Ark.) |
4-1 |
| 14 |
T-6 |
WV Tech (W. Va.) |
1-1-3 |
| 15 |
16 |
Indiana Wesleyan |
4-1-2 |
| 16 |
T-18 |
Ottawa (Kan.) |
3-1-1 |
| 17 |
T-18 |
LSU Shreveport (La.) |
4-2-1 |
| 18 |
12 |
Bethel (Ind.) |
3-2-2 |
| 19 |
24 |
Union Commonwealth (Ky.) |
4-1 |
| 20 |
RV |
Spring Arbor (Mich.) [1] |
7-0 |
| 21 |
17 |
Grand View (Iowa) |
2-2-1 |
| 22 |
22 |
Faulkner (Ala.) |
5-2 |
| 23 |
14 |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
2-3-1 |
| 24 |
RV |
Stanton (Calif.) |
7-0-1 |
| 25 |
20 |
Warner Pacific (Ore.) |
2-1-1 |
Dropped out of the Top 25: Xavier (La.), Grace (Ind.)
Receiving Votes: Benedictine (Kan.), Dalton State (Ga.), Grace (Ind.), Xavier (La.), Rocky Mountain (Mont.), Tennessee Southern, Mid-America Christian (Okla.), LSU Alexandria (La.), Milligan (Tenn.), Northwestern (Iowa), Clarke (Iowa), Southern Oregon, Columbia (Mo.), Johnson (Tenn.), Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio), St. Thomas (Fla.), Holy Cross (Ind.), Graceland (Iowa), Waldorf (Iowa), Central Methodist (Mo.), Taylor (Ind.), Southeastern (Fla.), Eastern Oregon, Westcliff (Calif.), Hope International (Calif.), Marian (Ind.).
—KCAC—