October 16, 2012

By Alan Grosbach, Manager of Communications and Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For the sixth-consecutive week, Concordia (Ore.) tops the 2012 NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Tuesday. The Cavaliers were awarded 20 first-place votes and 591 points. Concordia's six-week reign at No. 1 marks the second time in the last three seasons that the Cavaliers have held the top spot for at least six-straight polls - the first being an eight-week stretch in 2010.

Concordia, the only unbeaten team in the Top 25 at 11-0-2, continues to roll along through Cascade Collegiate Conference action with shutout wins against College of Idaho (Oct. 12) and Eastern Oregon (Oct. 14) last week. Since drawing back-to-back matches at the Mobile (Ala.) Soccer Tournament at the Orange Beach Sportsplex in Orange Beach, Calif., the Cavaliers have won five-straight and have outscored opponents 14-0. Concordia returns to action on Oct. 19 at Corban (Ore.).

Picking up the other first-place nod in the seventh edition of the poll was No. 2 Lee (Tenn.) The defending national champion Lady Flames have received at least one first-place vote in every poll this season. Lee, who garnered 588 total points, was followed by No. 3 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) with 553 total points. Rounding out the top five for the second-consecutive week is Mobile (Ala.) at No. 4 and fifth-ranked William Carey (Miss.).

Only three teams posted movements of larger than two positions with No. 20 Judson's (Ill.) three spot jump highlighting the group. The Eagles own an 11-3-0 record and have won five of their last six. In contrast, Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) slipped a poll-high seven places from No. 12 to No. 19. The Warhawks have lost three-straight, including matches against top-five Lee, 2-0, on Oct. 11 and Mobile, 1-0, on Oct. 3. Auburn Montgomery attempts to snap the streak on Wednesday when they travel to William Carey.

No. 18 Brenau (Ga.) is the newcomer to the poll, knocking out Trinity International (Ill.) (No. 22). The Tigers are 10-3-0 this season, including a 1-0 victory against Auburn Montgomery on Oct. 13. It is the first-ever Top 25 recognition for Brenau.

Twelve conferences/independents/unaffiliated groups are represented throughout the Top 25, led by five squads from the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC). Hailing from the SSAC are Lee, Mobile, William Carey, Brenau, and Auburn Montgomery. The Golden State Athletic Conference is second amongst the group with four representatives, while the Unaffiliated Group comprised of the Frontier Conference and TranSouth Athletic Conference and the Heart of America Athletic Conference are third with three teams.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conference/independent/unaffiliated groups. The next Top 25 will be announced on Oct. 23.

For a complete women's soccer ratings calendar, click here.

2012 NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll - No. 7 (Oct. 16)