Thursday, September 04, 2008

MACON, Ga. - Three Atlantic Sun men's soccer programs garnered rankings on the initial National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas South Region poll of the 2008 campaign. After one week of play, Campbell racked up fourth, FGCU and Belmont took eighth and ninth.

Campbell's rating this week marks its highest regional ranking in Doug Hess' seven seasons as head coach at the University. Campbell was ranked as high as second in the South during the 1988 season.

The Fighting Camels, who ended 2007 rated seventh in the always-tough South Region listing, blanked the Seahawks 3-0 last Friday. UNCW then defeated nationally 20th-ranked Furman 3-2 in overtime on Sunday.

"It is a high honor to be ranked so high to kick-off the year, but as we all know the college soccer season is a roller-coaster ride and a test of longevity," said Hess. "I am proud of our program from where we have come to where we are today."

FGCU faced two opponents from the Big Ten Conference this past weekend, falling to 2-1 to national runner-up Ohio State and defeating Penn State 1-0. The 1-1 record earned them a second-place finish in the Bert and Iris Wolstein Classic, which also featured the University of Central Florida, behind host team Ohio State. The regional ranking is the first for the program, which began competition one year ago.

Belmont ranks ninth in the poll. The Bruins won both of their matches at the Soccer for a Cure Classic hosted by Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C. this past weekend to win the Tournament. This is the first time in school history that the Bruins have won its' first two matches.

"Receiving a regional ranking like this one is a tremendous statement about where we're taking our program," said Belmont head coach Earle Davidson. "The south region is very strong and we're off to an excellent start. We played two excellent matches and the guys are shaping up to having a good season."

On Saturday, the Camels travel to William & Mary, which is ranked fourth in the South Atlantic region after a season-opening 2-1 triumph over UNC Greensboro. The stretch continues next Wednesday (Sept. 10) at Loyola (Md.), which tops this week’s North Atlantic region poll and received the 26th-most votes in the NSCAA national poll.

The Eagles will travel to New York this weekend to face Hartwick and Syracuse in the Mayor's Cup before holding their first home match on September 12 against Seattle. The Bruins will return to action on Sept. 6 against Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Okla.

The NSCAA conducts the most widely recognized national and regional soccer ranking system in the country as a service to the general public and its members. The intent of the rankings program is to stimulate greater interest in men's and women's soccer at the intercollegiate and interscholastic levels and to recognize those programs that are enjoying remarkable success on a regional and national level.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

NSCAA South Region Rankings (Sept. 2, 2008)
# School                                Record   Activity
1. Wake Forest               2-0-0    DN Virginia Commonwealth 2-1, DN Florida International 3-0
2. North Carolina             2-0-0    DH Florida International 3-0, DH Virginia Commonwealth 1-0 (OT)
3. South Carolina            1-0-0    DH Clemson 2-0
4. Campbell                   1-0-0    DH UNC Wilmington 3-0
5. College of Charleston  1-1-0    DN Marshall 2-0, LN Charlotte 3-5
6. Furman                      0-1-0    LA UNC Wilmington 2-3 (OT)
7. Clemson                    0-1-0    LA South Carolina 0-2
8. Florida Gulf Coast       1-1-0    LA Ohio State 1-2, DN Penn State 1-0
9. Belmont                    2-0-0    DN Winthrop 2-0, DA Gardner-Webb 2-1
10. Appalachian State     1-0-0    DA East Tennessee State 3-1
D=Defeated; L=Lost; T=Tied; H=Home; A=Away; N=Neutral