KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Moving to 4-0 on Saturday, Anderson University men's soccer has cracked the top-25 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Continental Tire NCAA Division II Men's National Poll for the first time since the 2011 season, moving to the No. 19 position, as announced by the NSCAA on Tuesday.
Anderson is joined by South Atlantic Conference foe Wingate as the only two representatives from the conference in the weekly poll. Wingate moved to 3-0 on the season with a double-overtime victory over Carson-Newman over the weekend. AU is coming off an impressive 3-1 win over Catawba on Saturday.
In the most recent statistic release by the NCAA, which carried games through Saturday, the Trojans rank second in the country in assists (13), third in goals (16) and second in points (45). In all three categories, Anderson trails Truman which leads the country with 18 goals, 16 assists and 52 points. Individually, junior Mattias Schyberg is fourth in the country in assists with four and Andre Carle ranks eighth in goals with four.
AU is one of 14 teams in the poll to have a perfect undefeated mark without any draws. Anderson is also one of two teams from South Carolina to earn a spot on the poll as Peach Belt Conference favorite Lander (3-0) is ranked 11th. PBC member UNC Pembroke just missed the top-25, as the Braves received votes.
Lynn, which held the top spot in the last poll, dropped out of its No. 1 ranking after taking a draw with Palm Beach Atlantic. Moving up to the No. 1 spot is Simon Fraser which moved to 4-0 after tallying a 9-0 rout over Trinity Lutheran. The Canadian squad has outscored its opponents 17-5 this year.
Anderson returns to action on Tuesday when it faces Flagler, which dropped out of the national poll after taking back-to-back losses to Rollins and Francis Marion. The Trojans return home on Saturday as they continue SAC play with Coker. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
