CMS Men's Soccer Vaults up to No. 8 in Latest National Poll
CLAREMONT, Calif. - On the heels of a big 3-1 win over No. 9 Trinity on Friday, the previous top-ranked team in the West Region, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's soccer team debuted in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division III poll at No. 8 in the nation, heading into its home opener on Friday night.
CMS stands at 2-2 on the year, but one of the losses was in double overtime to current No. 3 Oglethorpe in Atlanta, and the other was a road decision at UT Dallas 1-0, one day after the Stags defeated Trinity. CMS, which also has a 1-0 road win over Emory to its credit, took over the top spot in the West Region by virtue of the Trinity win and earned a top-10 national ranking for its efforts.
The Stags were 15-2-1 last year and were denied a bid to the NCAA Tournament despite a top 25 ranking and the nation's leading defense (four goals allowed in 18 games). CMS beefed up its non-conference schedule with road trips to Atlanta and Dallas, and came away with a signature win over Trinity, as well as a road win over Emory. The Stags still hope to win the SCIAC Tournament and earn the league's automatic bid, but they have improved their chances at earning an at-large if needed.
Sophomore Ethan Tyng keyed the Trinity win with two goals, on his way to earning SCIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors, while junior Daniel Rohde had a goal and an assist and junior William Birchard and sophomore Will Barton each had assists.
CMS will conclude its non-conference schedule with another big non-conference game at home on Friday night against Saint Thomas (Minn.). The Tommies have a win over WashU and a tie wth Chicago to their credit this season.
NATIONAL POLL 1 - SEPTEMBER 10, 2019
| Rank | School | Prev | W-L-T |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tufts University | 1 | 2-0-0 |
| 2 | SUNY Oneonta | NR | 4-0-0 |
| 3 | Oglethorpe University | NR | 4-0-0 |
| 4 | John Carroll University | RV | 5-0-0 |
| 5 | Johns Hopkins University | 22 | 3-1-0 |
| 6 | Amherst College | 13 | 2-0-0 |
| 7 | University Of Chicago | 3 | 1-0-2 |
| 8 | CMS | NR | 2-2-0 |
| 9 | Augsburg University | NR | 3-0-1 |
| 10 | North Park University | 21 | 2-1-0 |
| 11 | SUNY Cortland | 11 | 3-1-0 |
| 12 | Franklin & Marshall College | 17 | 2-1-0 |
| 13 | Capital University | RV | 3-0-0 |
| 14 | Washington & Lee University | NR | 3-1-0 |
| 15 | Calvin University | 2 | 3-1-0 |
| 16 | Loras College | NR | 4-0-1 |
| 17 | University Of Puget Sound | NR | 1-0-1 |
| 18 | Connecticut College | 23 | 2-0-0 |
| 19 | Stevens Institute Of Technology | 24 | 3-0-0 |
| 20 | University Of Mary Washington | NR | 3-1-0 |
| 21 | Ithaca College | NR | 3-1-0 |
| 22 | Penn State University-Behrend | 16 | 3-0-0 |
| 23 | University Of Mary Hardin-Baylor | RV | 2-0-1 |
| 24 | Luther College | 8 | 2-1-1 |
| 25 | Brandeis University | NR | 3-1-0 |
Records shown are through games of Sept. 8, 2019
Also receiving votes: Ohio Wesleyan University, Centre College, Hobart College, California Lutheran University, Haverford College, Middlebury College