TMU Enters NAIA Top 10; TWU Receives Votes

1. William Carey (Miss.)

Notes: William Carey rises to No. 1 for the first time this season with ten first-place votes after securing the Southern States Athletic Conference Regular Season Title on Oct. 23, marking their ninth SSAC regular season title. The Crusaders will be the top seed in the SSAC tournament, set to start tomorrow, October 30. Karen Vilau leads WCU with 18 goals scored this season, along with 13 assists. Vilau is third nationally in points, having 49 as the postseason begins.

Up Next: WCU enters the SSAC tournament, hosting Faulkner (Ala.) Tomorrow, Oct. 30, in Hattiesburg.

2. Marian (Ind.)

Notes: The Knights climb to their highest ranking since October 5, 2022, when they held the No. 2 ranking through the preseason in 2023. At 15-0-1 overall and 7-0-1 in Crossroads play, MU is outscoring opponents 52-8 on the season, or 3.25 goals scored per game compared to 0.50 goals allowed per game this season. The goal scoring charge is led by Katie Koger, a senior midfielder from Zionsville, Ind. Oct. 28 National Defensive Player of the Week, Lily Ames, the No. 1 goalkeeper on the roster, has posted 1,280:52 minutes between the posts, allowing just 0.56 goals per game with a 78.4 save percentage.

Up Next: MU has one final regular season game on the road in Fort Wayne, Ind, later today, Oct. 29, at Saint Francis (Ind.) before the Crossroads tournament begins next Wednesday, Nov. 5.

3. Keiser (Fla.)

Notes: The Seahawks slide two spots after a pair of tough results at the beach since the fourth poll release back on Oct. 15. KU rebounded with a pair of wins on Oct. 22 against Warner (Fla.) 8-1, then 2-0 against Webber International (Fla.) on Oct. 25, keeping them inside the top three nationally. Keiser is also keeping its opponents to under a goal per game this season as they have outscored them 57-11, led by fourth-year forward Lauren Riley.

Up Next: KU has one last regular-season game later this evening, Oct. 29, against Florida Memorial at home before entering Sun Conference Tournament play next Wednesday, Nov. 5

4. Missouri Valley

Notes: MVC climbed one spot this week after going 2-0-1 since the fourth poll release back on Oct. 15. The Vikings have scored 40 goals on the season as they average 17.5 shots per game and a shot on goal percentage of .574. Seven players have multiple goals on the season as Judit Ferre leads the way with nine through 13 starts and 14 games played. Marta Carrasco Mesa and Marlene Flores have been the field generals for MVC, with five assists each, to lead the team. 

Up Next: One game remains on the book for the Vikings in the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 1. MVC will travel southwest to Baldwin City for a regular-season finale against Baker (Kan.).

5. Oklahoma Wesleyan

Notes: The Eages are one of two teams inside the top ten to clinch an automatic bid to the national tournament this season after securing a regular-season title in the KCAC over the weekend. Laura Gieseler and Kylie Reif have been trading goals all season long for OKWU, combining for 28 of the team's 65 total scored. Defensively, Alessandra Martinez leads in time spent between the posts with 1,126:43 minutes played over 13 starts and 14 total games.

Up Next: Oklahoma Wesleyan has two more regular-season games on deck, both being on the road. OKWU will kick off against Avila (Mo.) today, Oct. 29 at noon CT, then make the trip to York (Neb.) in the finale before the KCAC tournament begins on Nov. 5.

6. Indiana Wesleyan

Notes: IWU was one of five teams to hold steady in the fifth release of the coaches' poll this week. The Wildcats posted two shutout wins before running into Marian (Ind.), which at the time was ranked No. 3 nationally, dropping the game 1-0. It was the first goal IWU allowed since Oct. 4 against Huntington (Ind.).

Up Next: One last regular season game sits in front of IWU as they host Bethel (Ind.) later today, Oct. 29. Crossroads tournament action will begin next week, Nov. 5.

7. College of Idaho

Notes: The Yotes have been untouchable for 32 straight Cascade Conference games, nearly 365 days removed from their last CCC loss. Southern Oregon arrived in Caldwell just days after the fourth poll release to put an end to that impressive streak. College of Idaho rebounded with a barrage of goals over the next two games, putting 11 away while only conceding one. Sitting at 12-2-0 overall and 9-1-0 in Cascade action, Abbi Roubidoux and Gianna Yslava have led the way in goals and assists for the College of Idaho as Roubidoux has put 14 away and Yslava has connected for 14 assists.

Up Next: Two road matches left on the docket for the Yotes in Washington. College of Idaho will take on Evergreen State (Wash.) on Friday, Oct. 31, and Northwest (Wash.) on Saturday, Nov. 1, before Cascade tournament action begins on Nov. 8

8. Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)

Notes: The Eagles are another team to hold steady at the same rank in the fifth release, posting a perfect 5-0 record since the Oct. 15 release. ERAU's closest game of those five; the first of two meetings against Park Gilbert (Ariz.) in a three-day span that ended in a 1-0 victory. The Eagles have outscored opponents 68-10 this season and remain undefeated in Great Southwest Athletic Conference play at 12-0-0.

Up Next: ERAU has one more contest before closing the chapter on the regular season. Tomorrow, Oct. 30, the Eages will head over to Riverside, Calif., for a 5 p.m. PT match against La Sierra (Calif.).

9. Truett McConnell (Ga.)

Notes: The Bears claimed their fourth-straight Appalachian Athletic Conference regular season title on Monday, Oct. 27, punching their ticket to the 2025 national tournament for the eighth consecutive season. TMU head coach David MacDowel stated, "...They have showed not only their quality, but their resilience and grit as well as desire to constantly improve." The Bears rank first nationally in shutouts with 12 this season and ninth in shots on goal with 187.

Up Next: TMU has a few days to rest as they will play their first AAC tournament game on Saturday, Nov. 1, at home against the winner of Montreat (N.C.) and Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.).

10. Cumberlands (Ky.)

Notes: UC slides one spot from the previous release, entering Mid-South tournament play at No. 10 nationally. The Patriots went 3-0 since the Oct. 15 release and didn't allow a single goal during that time. Nicole Araujo and Abigail Little have led the way in terms of scoring for UC this season, but many others have contributed as well. Twelve different players have scored multiple goals this season, while 15 different players have at least one.

Up Next: Cumberlands (Ky.) will host Georgetown (Ky.) in the Mid-South tournament quarterfinals later tonight, Oct. 29.