Photo by Jeffrey A. Camarati/UNC Athletic Communications

 By IVES GALARCEP

The North Carolina Tar Heels may have started the 2014 season with a loss, but it is the way they have rebounded that now has the ACC powerhouse on top of the heap.

UNC has climbed up to the No. 1 spot in the latest SBI College Soccer Top 25 on the strength of a four-match winning streak that has included four straight shutout victories. Led by an attack that is spreading the wealth in the goal-scoring department, the Tar Heels look like the team to beat in the ACC.

Another team that has overcome a rough start to the season is Marquette. The defending Big East champions have shaken off a pair of early-season defeats to also post a four-match winning streak, all via shutout, to climb back up into the SBI Top 25.

Here is the SBI College Soccer Top 25 for Sept. 19th (records through Thursday):

SBI COLLEGE SOCCER TOP 25

1. NORTH CAROLINA (5-1)

2. WASHINGTON (5-1)

3. GEORGE MASON (5-0)

4. UC IRVINE (5-0-1)

5. UCLA (3-1-2)

6. GEORGETOWN (3-1-3)

7. NOTRE DAME (3-1-1)

8. PENN STATE (5-0-1)

9. NEW MEXICO (4-1)

10. CREIGHTON (5-0-1)

11. MICHIGAN STATE (3-1-1)

12. VIRGINIA (4-1)

13. FURMAN (4-1)

14. COASTAL CAROLINA (3-2)

15. CALIFORNIA (3-1)

16. INDIANA (3-1-2)

17. AMERICAN (6-1)

18. STANFORD (3-1)

19. MARQUETTE (4-2)

20. DELAWARE (6-0)

21. UNLV (5-0-1)

22. MEMPHIS (3-1-1)

23. SAINT LOUIS (5-1)

24. SYRACUSE (5-1)

25. OHIO STATE (2-0-3)

HONORABLE MENTION

Wake Forest (3-2), Louisville (2-1-1), UMBC (3-2-1), VCU (3-3), Northwestern (3-1-2), Charlotte (5-1), Seattle (3-2), Navy 3-2-1, Denver (4-2), Illinois-Chicago (3-2-1), Maryland (1-2-2), UConn (2-3), CSU Northridge (3-3)

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What do you think of this week’s rankings? Who do you think is ranked too highly? Who do you think isn’t getting the credit they deserve?

Share your thoughts below.