KANSAS CITY, Kan. - After stringing together three consecutive shutouts in an eight-day span, Anderson University men's soccer earned its first appearance of the season in the weekly National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Continental Tire NCAA Division II Southeast Region Poll, released by the NSCAA on Tuesday.
The Trojans enter the rankings with a 3-2 overall record after blanking South Atlantic Conference rivals Catawba and Coker, along with archrival Erskine, last week. In the winning streak, AU has outscored its opponents 4-0, highlighted by a pair of second half goals by Magnus Larsen against Erskine and Andre Carle at Coker to hand AU matching 1-0 victories. The duo currently leads the team in goals with two apiece.
After not earning a spot in the regional poll in the opening two weeks of the season, Anderson makes its first appearance in the rankings since late October of last season when it was slotted as high as No. 7. The first regional rankings released by the NCAA will not be released until late October.
The Black and Gold is one of just two teams from the SAC to be included, as Lincoln Memorial was the highest rated SAC member finishing at No. 3. Limestone, which enters the week with a perfect 5-0 record, leads the way at No. 1, while Peach Belt Conference member Young Harris is slotted second with a 4-0-1 mark.
Following the Railsplitters, Barton is ranked No. 4, followed by a pair of PBC schools in Clayton State (No. 5) and Francis Marion (No. 6). Lees-McRae rounds out the teams from Conference Carolinas at the No. 7 spot, while USC Aiken (No. 8) and Flagler (No. 9) finished just ahead of the Trojans.
Anderson looks to move up the rankings this week as it prepares for a pair of home matches with Queens coming to the Upstate on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., followed by Mars Hill visiting Trojan Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
