The Lipscomb men’s soccer team was ranked #23 in the United Soccer Coaches Division I National Poll in the first rankings release of the season Tuesday.
The poll ranks the top 25 soccer teams in NCAA Division I men’s soccer every week. After being unranked in the preseason poll a week ago, the Bisons won 2-1 in a marquee match against the UCLA Bruins in Los Angeles followed by a 4-0 thrashing of the San Diego Toreros in San Diego.
“We had a great first weekend and I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface of how good this team can be,” said head coach Charles Morrow. “It’s a little early to get too excited about national rankings [since] there is still a lot of work to be done by this group.”
“If we can stay healthy and continue the work that we have just begun with the hunger and attitude to get better every day, I think this group could do some really special things,” said Morrow.
The in-form Bisons squad was also given the top spot in the Atlantic Region of the ranking, finishing just ahead of second-place UNC Wilmington and fellow ASUN Conference members Bellarmine and Central Arkansas, who are ranked third and fourth respectively. The Indiana Hoosiers lead the national ranking after Week 1.
Aside from ranking college soccer teams, United Soccer Coaches provides materials like education, job forums, and a membership program for soccer coaches at a variety of levels. According to their website, the ranking is an “indicator of week-to-week status of qualified programs”. The ranking does not have any effect on qualification to the NCAA College Cup.
Six different players scored over the past weekend for the Bisons, including senior center back Scott Gulden. The twin brother of ASUN Preseason Defender of the Year Noah Gulden, Hattingen, Germany-born Scott was also named ASUN Defender of the Week on Monday. The 2018 ASUN All-Freshman and four-year starter scored his first career Lipscomb goal on Sunday in the win against San Diego.
Lipscomb continues its march through a prestigious non-conference schedule when they host the Memphis Tigers in their home opener at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex on Friday at 7 p.m.
image courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics