Crossroads League in the NAIA National Polls – September 4-10
KANSAS CITY – The NAIA released its new Top-25 Polls on Wednesday for the sports of women’s soccer, men’s soccer and volleyball. The Crossroads League placed eight teams in those polls, highlighted by the Spring Arbor women’s soccer team holding at No. 2.
WOMEN’S SOCCER (Next Poll on September 12)
No. 2 Spring Arbor (5-0, 0-0 CL) held strong in the polls, adding 30 points for a new total of 482. The Cougars have not been scored on this season, holding a 20-0 scoring advantage that was highlighted by a 1-0 defeat of No. 1 Northwestern Ohio on Wednesday night.
No. 17 Taylor (3-1, 0-0 CL) added 102 points from its previous total to end with 235 points and a five-spot boost in the rankings. The Trojans opened 3-0, before suffering a 1-0 loss to No. 5 Columbia on Wednesday.
No. 25 Marian (3-2, 0-0 CL) jumped from three points to a total of 104 and a spot in the top-25. The Knights only two setbacks came against top-15 opponents, with MU winning the other three contests by a combined score of 23-0.
RV Grace (2-2-1, 0-0 CL) landed in the poll for the first time this season by claiming 38 points for the 29th-most in the nation. The Lancers made headlines with a 1-0 upset of then-No. 21 Kansas Wesleyan and an overtime loss to then No. 19 Embry-Riddle (AZ).
MEN’S SOCCER (Next Poll on September 12)
RV Spring Arbor (3-2, 0-0 CL) slipped out of the top-25, falling 200 points to a new total of 92 to fall from No. 14 to No. 26 in the ratings. The Cougars took a 4-2 win over then-No. 5 West Virginia Tech but dropped their last two matches to unranked foes.
RV Bethel (4-1, 0-0 CL) jumped into the poll for the first time this season with nine points. The Pilots have yet to allow more than one goal in any outing and are unbeaten when scoring at least one goal.
VOLLEYBALL (Next Poll on September 19)
No. 20 Indiana Wesleyan (8-2, 2-0 CL) gained 18 points and climbed one spot in the new rankings, earning a total of 238 points. The Wildcats have won six-straight matches, including a win over then-No. 22 Lourdes.
RV Marian (9-2, 1-0 CL) jumped from 18 points to 34 in the rankings, good for the 34th-highest tally in the nation. The Knights boast a pair of wins over teams that were receiving votes in the preseason poll and have won seven-straight matches.
CROSSROADS LEAGUE IN ADDITIONAL TOP-25 POLLS
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY (Announced on August 23 – Next Poll on September 13)
No. 14 Taylor
No. 19 Indiana Wesleyan
No. 23 Marian
RV Spring Arbor
RV Mount Vernon Nazarene
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY (Announced on August 23 – Next Poll on September 13)
No. 12 Marian
No. 15 Taylor
RV Indiana Wesleyan
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