Wildcats Move to No. 3 and Thomas Earns LSC Honors
10/21/2009 3:47:14 PM | Women's Soccer
ABILENE – The second NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Regional Rankings were announced today, and the ACU women's soccer team has jumped to No.3 in the South Central Region. It marks the highest ranking in the Wildcats young history.
Behind the Wildcats are Lone Star Conference opponents West Texas A&M and Midwestern State. West Texas A&M is ranked-19 in the nation in the NSCAA Poll and No.4 in the region. The Lady Buffs are coming off a loss at Texas Woman's and a win over Midwestern State. The win knocked previously ranked Midwestern State out of the coaches' poll and dropped them to 6 in the South Central Region. While the WTAMU loss allowed St. Edward's and Incarnate Word the top two spots in the region.
Four members of the MIAA and one from the LSC round out the South Central Region as Truman State grabs the sixth spot. Nebraska-Omaha is No. 7 in the rankings, followed by Central Oklahoma at No. 8, Central Missouri at No. 9, and Northwest Missouri State at No. 10.
Along with the conference's post-season tournament winner the top six teams in the final poll will advance to the NCAA Regional Tournament. The final regular season poll will be released November 4 and the championship selections will take place on November 9.
The Wildcats also sit one point ahead of Central Oklahoma in the conference standings. WTAMU and MSU follow the Bronchos in a tie for third. The LSC post-season tournament is held at the site of the regular season champion, while the top six teams will battle for the automatic bid.
The Wildcats will look to win their fourth straight for the second time this season as they travel to Eastern New Mexico on Friday. Sunday the Wildcats will battle the Buffaloes in a game with huge playoff implications in a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Also from the conference office senior defender Alyson Thomas was named LSC Defensive Player of the Week as she scored a goal and recorded an assist leading the Wildcats to a pair of victories including a shutout over Texas Woman's. The Wildcats have now produced five shutouts on the season, three shy of last season's eight.
