By JOHN BOSCHINI
The Akron Zips have retained the top spot in the NSCAA/HendrickCars.com poll for the fifth-consecutive week after a 4-0 demolition of former No. 2 Tulsa last Friday. Akron, which has yet to concede a goal all season, again received all 23 first-place votes, and Tulsa dropped to No. 7 after the loss.
North Carolina moved into the runner-up spot on the back of a five-game winning streak, which includes a 2-1 victory over now No. 8 Maryland. Connecticut moved up to No. 3, and Virginia crept up to No. 4. Southern Methodist, which started the season unranked, is now up to No. 5 after a blistering 9-0 start.
News wasn't quite so good for the 2007 national champions. Wake Forest has tumbled from its preseason perch at No. 3 to out of the Top 25 after an uncharacterisitc start. The same goes for Harvard, which is no longer ranked after sitting comfortably in the Top 10 after the opening week. The Crimson are looking to rebound from a five-game winless streak.
Monmouth fell to No. 10 after Loyola (Md.) snapped the Hawks' nine-game winning streak. Four teams – West Virginia, San Diego State, Washington and James Madison – are no longer unranked, as all have staked a claim in the Top 25.
Here is this week's NSCAA/HendrickCars.com Top 25 poll:
NSCAA/HENDRICKCARS.COM COLLEGE SOCCER TOP 25
1. Akron (25) 575 (6-0-0)
2. North Carolina 538 (5-1-0)
3. Connecticut 524 (6-0-1)
4. Virginia 514 (5-1-1)
5. Southern Methodist 478 (9-0-0)
6. Louisville 468 (5-0-2)
7. Tulsa 462 (6-1-0)
8. Maryland 414 (4-2-1)
9. Duke 396 (4-1-2)
10. Monmouth 349 (6-1-0)
11. Michigan State 347 (7-1-0)
12. UC Irvine 341 (7-1-0)
13. Creighton 308 (6-1-0)
14. Butler 289 (7-0-0)
15. Boston College 272 (4-1-2)
16. California 248 (4-1-2)
17. Brown 239 (5-0-2)
18. St. John's 150 (5-2-0)
19. Ohio State 134 (5-2-1)
20. UCLA 117 (5-2-1)
21. West Virginia 112 (5-2-0)
22. San Diego State 104 (6-1-1)
23. Washington 76 (6-1-1)
24. Penn State 41 (5-2-0)
25. James Madison 37 (6-1-0)
Others receiving votes: Colgate 33, UAB 29, Indiana 24, Wake Forest 17, South Carolina 14, Navy 12, Towson 9, UNC-Wilmington 8, Harvard 7, Portland 4, South Florida 3, UC Santa Barbara 3, College of Charleston 2, Florida Gulf Coast 2, Notre Dame 1.
———-
Surprised to see Wake Forest struggle? Do you think North Carolina worthy of the No. 2 spot? Think SMU can keep up its winning streak?
Share your thoughts below.
That doesn’t make any sense, the majority of those schools in the nscaa top 25 have big time (american)football programs, 14/25 are in BCS conferences. Cal, Washington,West Virginia, UCLA, UNC, BC, Maryland, Louisville, PSU, OSU and MSU are all schools with lots of history in both kinds of football. I think that it shows the opposite….that both sports can be successful…. at the same time.
Yes, but it seems like Michigan State is good in every sport.
I must agree, easily the best passing game i’ve ever seen in college soccer. They move the ball around like a world class team.
and Michigan State (11/23)
I’m hoping that, at the end of this season, my beloved Tar Heels will avenge their loss to the Akron whatevers.
GO HEELS!
Of the top 25 rated soccer schools, only Ohio State (19/3rd) and Penn State (22/24) are also in the top 25 in American football. I like the “hit ’em where they ain’t” strategy for the development of soccer in the U.S.
So what’s the deal with UCLA this season? Why’d they drop so low? I’ve been out of it since M. Stephens and Nakamura left, but are there any solid players left on the squad? What’s the deal? Thanks!
Easily the best college team I’ve ever seen.
I dont see Akron losing any time soon, they are playing the best soccer in the country. I think they could compete in the MLS they are doing so well, haha.
They really were. I like Caleb Porter’s philosophy: death by a 1000 passes.
SDSU GO AZTECS!!!!!!!!!!!
Akron is maybe the best college soccer team I’ve ever seen. They could probably beat DC United 🙂
Akron was incredibly fun to watch last weekend against Tulsa.