Crossroads League in the NAIA National Polls – September 11-17
KANSAS CITY – The NAIA released a new batch of Top-25 Polls this week for the sports of soccer and cross country. The Crossroads League placed 13 teams in those polls, highlighted by the Spring Arbor women’s soccer team taking over the No. 1 ranking.
WOMEN’S SOCCER (Next Poll on September 19)
No. 1 Spring Arbor (6-0, 0-0 CL) took over the top spot with a 16-point increase to a total of 498 points in the new rankings. SAU upset then-No. 1 Northwestern Ohio, 1-0, and has yet to allow a goal this season, outscoring its opposition by a 24-0 margin.
No. 16 Taylor (5-1, 0-0 CL) rose nine points in the poll to a new total of 244 and climbed one spot to match its best ranking in program history. TU suffered its lone loss via a 1-0 setback to No. 5 Columbia and owns a 20-3 goal differential.
No. 22 Marian (4-2, 0-0 CL) continued its climb in the polls, adding 40 points for a new total of 144. MU has recovered from early losses against a pair of top-five foes to rattle off three-straight wins and boasts a 25-1 goal differential in its four victories.
RV Grace (3-2-1, 0-0 CL) slipped 19 points but continued to receive votes with a total of 19 points in the latest rankings. GC battled RV Missouri Baptist to a scoreless draw on the road, before winning 3-0 at Lindenwood-Belleville.
MEN’S SOCCER (Next Poll on September 19)
No. 24 Spring Arbor (5-2, 0-0 CL) returned to the Top-25 with a 15-point increase to 107. SAU returned home from a winless trip to Florida and opened its home schedule with a 3-0 win over Olivet Nazarene and a 3-1 victory over Madonna.
RV Bethel (5-1-1, 0-0 CL) improved 26 points to a new total of 37, after battling NCAA Division II foe Purdue Northwest to a scoreless draw in its lone contest last week. BC returned home on Thursday to top RV Northwestern by a 3-2 margin.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY (Next Poll on September 27)
No. 13 Taylor added 54 points in the new poll for a total of 380 and a one-spot boost in the standings. TU won the nine-team Indiana Wesleyan Invite with a time of 94:01 to open its campaign.
No. 17 Indiana Wesleyan picked up 247 points for a 21-point jump and a two-spot climb from the preseason poll. IWU opened the year with a second-place finish and a time of 97:24 on its home course.
No. 24 Marian improved one position and added nine points for a new total of 150. MU won its first race of the year, topping a four-team field at Rose-Hulman.
RV Spring Arbor continued to receive votes and picked up seven more points for a new total of 48. SAU finished behind Taylor and IWU at the IWU Invite with a time of 98:40.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY (Next Poll on September 27)
No. 13 Taylor saw a 61-point jump in the rankings and climbed two positions with a total of 358 points. TU won the Indiana Wesleyan Invite, topping the nine-team field with a time of 130:37.
No. 16 Marian slipped four spots and 29 points in the new rankings, tallying 312 points. MU opened its season with a third-place showing at Rose-Hulman’s four-team invite.
RV Indiana Wesleyan added 16 points and finished with the 26th-highest total in the poll with 100 points. IWU finished behind Taylor on its home course with a time of 132:53.
CROSSROADS LEAGUE IN ADDITIONAL TOP-25 POLLS
VOLLEYBALL (Announced on September 5 – Next Poll on September 19)
No. 20 Indiana Wesleyan
RV Marian
WOMEN’S GOLF (Announced on August 25 – Next Poll on September 29)
No. 19 Marian
RV Saint Francis
RV Bethel
RV Taylor
MEN’S GOLF (Announced on August 25 – Next Poll on September 29)
No. 13 Taylor
RV Marian