Concordia women's soccer is ranked No. 1 in the nation again this week.
Concordia Soccer: No. 1 for 2nd Straight Week
2010 NAIA Women's Soccer Polls
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Concordia (Ore.) retained its spot at No. 1 in the fifth edition of the 2010 NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll, the national office announced on Tuesday. The Cavaliers took home their fourth No. 1 ranking of the season on 19 first-place votes and 650 total points. Second-ranked Azusa Pacific (Calif.) and third-ranked Lee (Tenn.) remained at their respective rank, with the Cougars earning three first-place nods for 633 points and the Lady Flames awarded one for a total of 612 points.
Concordia shut out its 11th opponent of the season, blanking College of Idaho 2-0 on Oct. 2. Junior midfielder Sami Andrews was the offensive power, scoring two goals in a four-minute stretch. The shutout victory extends the Cavaliers' record to 10-0-1 and 2-0-0 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. Head coach Grant Landy's defense has yet to surrender a goal, while his offense has netted 24. The stifling defensive play has earned Concordia the most shutouts in the NAIA with 11 and sophomore keeper Tori Talbutt's 0.000 goals against per game ranks first. The Cavaliers return to action against Northwest Christianon Oct. 8.
The Cavaliers earned 14 first-place votes and 643 total points in last week's poll, as they returned to the top spot following a one-week hiatus. Concordia has defeated four teams in the current rankings: No. 7 Lindsey Wilson, No. 8 Martin Methodist, No. 22 Carroll and No. 25 Concordia (Calif.). Rocky Mountain College (15 votes) and Holy Names (one vote) are also former Concordia foes listed on at least one ballot. Corban University garnered 15 votes, making it the only other Cascade Collegiate Conference school to appear on any ballots.
No. 2 Azusa Pacific avenged its 2009 NAIA National Championship semifinal loss to Point Loma Nazarene with a 3-2 come-from behind overtime victory on Oct. 2. Sophomore forward Natalie Sun knocked in the game-winner from nine yards out just over four minutes into overtime. The win, which was the first in two games that had been pushed to overtime, lifted the Cougars to 7-0-2 and 2-0-1 in the GSAC. On the schedule this week is a visit to No. 25 Concordia (Calif.) on Wednesday, before returning to the Cougar Soccer Complex for back-to-back home games against Biola (Calif.) on Oct. 9 and No. 5 The Master's on Oct. 12.
Third-ranked Lee was in action in just one game last week, cruising to a 7-0 victory over Union (Ky.) on Sept. 29 to push its record to 8-2-0. Six different Lady Flames put the ball in the back of the net for their largest goal total of the season and fifth shutout. Ashley Aragona was the only Lady Flame with more than one goal, sending a pair past the goalie. The freshman forward ranks third nationally in game-winning goals (5), ninth in total goals (12) and 10th in goals per game (1.200). Matt Yelton's club will return to the Lee Soccer Field on Saturday in its Southern States Athletic Conference opener against Southern Wesleyan (S.C.).
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, independents and unaffiliated groups. The next regular season Top 25 poll will be announced on Oct. 12.