Oct. 31, 2007
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Azusa Pacific (Calif.) finishes at No. 1 in the final regular season National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men's Soccer Top 25 Coaches' Poll, announced today (Oct. 31). After taking over the top spot last week for the first time, Azusa earned 350 points and all 14 first-place votes this poll. Only one of three schools in the country with an undefeated record at 16-0-1, Azusa will host the Region II Championships beginning Nov. 1.
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and Southern Nazarene (Okla.) stayed at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively as LWC won its conference title while SNU is playing for the league crown on Nov. 1. No. 4 Ohio Dominican and No. 5 Fresno Pacific (Calif.) each moved up one spot after No. 6 Mobile (Calif.) fell two slots.
Four teams are newcomers in the final poll: No. 22 Hastings (Neb.), No. 23 Embry-Riddle (Fla.), No. 24 Grand View (Iowa) and No. 25 Covenant (Ga.). Covenant is the only team in this list with its first Top 25 rating this season. The Scots have won nine of its last 11 games including a conference championship appearance.
In other interesting news, Azusa and Concordia have earned a Top 10 placing in all 10 (including preseason) polls this year. Azusa, Southern Nazarene and Maine-Fort Kent (No. 19) are the remaining NAIA schools with an undefeated record.
Four teams consistently in the Top 25 hail from Region II, which is comprised of the California Pacific Conference (CPC) and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) - No. 1 Azusa Pacific, No. 5 Fresno Pacific, No. 10 Concordia and No. 12 Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.). Holy Names (Calif.) is in the "others receiving" category this time with eight votes.
Some conference tournament action is wrapping and regional play begins Oct. 31 and ends Nov. 8. The 20-team field for the 49th annual NAIA Men's Soccer National Tournament will be announced by Friday (Nov. 9) morning.
2007 NAIA Men's Soccer Top 25 Poll - Oct. 31 (Rating #9)
|
RANK |
LAST WEEK |
SCHOOL (Region) |
1st PLACE VOTES |
2007 RECORD* |
TOTAL POINTS |
|
1 |
1 |
Azusa Pacific (Calif.) (II) |
14 |
16-0-1 |
350 |
|
2 |
2 |
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (XI) |
|
15-1-0 |
331 |
|
3 |
3 |
Southern Nazarene (Okla.) (VI) |
|
14-0-1 |
327 |
|
4 |
5 |
Ohio Dominican (IX) |
|
16-1-0 |
292 |
|
5 |
6 |
Fresno Pacific (Calif.) (II) |
|
15-2-1 |
288 |
|
6 |
4 |
Mobile (Ala.) (XIII) |
|
14-3-1 |
274 |
|
7 |
8 |
Graceland (Iowa) (V) |
|
16-1-1 |
267 |
|
8 |
7 |
Simon Fraser (B.C.) (I) |
|
13-1-1 |
256 |
|
9 |
10 |
Berry (Ga.) (XIII) |
|
15-2-0 |
234 |
|
10 |
9 |
Concordia (Calif.) (II) |
|
14-2-0 |
230 |
|
11 |
13 |
Indiana Wesleyan (VIII) |
|
15-3-1 |
195 |
|
12 |
T11 |
Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) (II) |
|
13-2-1 |
183 |
|
13 |
15 |
Oklahoma City (VI) |
|
13-3-1 |
178 |
|
14 |
T11 |
Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) (XIII) |
|
12-4-0 |
174 |
|
15 |
16 |
McKendree (Ill.) (V) |
|
16-1-1 |
146 |
|
16 |
14 |
Park (Mo.) (IV) |
|
11-5-0 |
139 |
|
17 |
17 |
Lee (Tenn.) (XIII) |
|
14-4-3 |
120 |
|
18 |
19 |
Rio Grande (Ohio) (IX) |
|
11-4-1 |
95 |
|
19 |
18 |
Maine - Fort Kent (X) |
|
18-0-0 |
92 |
|
20 |
25 |
Notre Dame (Ohio) (IX) |
|
14-2-2 |
78 |
|
21 |
T23 |
Concordia (Ore.) (I) |
|
15-3-0 |
55 |
|
22 |
NR |
Hastings (Neb.) (III) |
|
12-3-1 |
52 |
|
23 |
RV |
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (XIV) |
|
8-6-2 |
49 |
|
24 |
RV |
Grand View (Iowa) (VII) |
|
13-5-2 |
41 |
|
25 |
NR |
Covenant (Ga.) (XII) |
|
13-4-1 |
23 |
Others Receiving Votes:
Benedictine (Kan.) (V) 18; Judson (Ill.) (VII) 10; Webber International (Fla.) (XIV) 9; Holy Names (Calif.) (II) 8; Baker (Kan.) (V) 4; Westminster (Utah) (I) 4; Lambuth (Tenn.) (XI) 3; Northwood (Fla.) (XIV) 1
* Records through Sunday, Oct. 28
