Lady Braves Earn No. 21 Ranking in NSCAA Top 25 Poll

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – With an impressive record of 12-2-2, the UNCP women's soccer team jumped into the national spotlight in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division II Top 25 Poll at No.21, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon.

The Lady Braves, who are also ranked third in the NSCAA's Southeast Region Poll, are getting a taste of the national spotlight for the first time this season. UNCP stretched its unbeaten streak out to 11 games before falling at then-No. 4 Armstrong Atlantic on Saturday. During the unbeaten streak, UNCP outscored its opponents by a 23-3 count and registered nine shutouts.

Goalkeeper Britney Bennett has registered 67 saves this season, allowing six goals in over 1,200 minutes of action and logging six shutouts. Sophomore Anna Svensson is currently second in the UNCP history books for most goals in a season with 16 and needs three more goals to tie the school record mark set by Melanie Cobb in 2008. UNCP was last ranked in the Sept. 1, 2008, listing by the NSCAA.

The Black and Gold joined two other Peach Belt Conference schools in the national poll as Armstrong Atlantic and Columbus State checked in at No. 3 and No. 11, respectively. The Pirates also top the region poll, with the Cougars following close behind at No. 2.

UNCP finishes its regular season at home this week with a non-conference matchup against Catawba (6-6-3) on Wednesday at 5 p.m. and a tilt against PBC rival North Georgia (13-3-0, 7-2-0) on Saturday at 1 p.m. Admission to all UNCP soccer home games is free.

National Rankings     
1. Saint Rose (N.Y.)      
2. Central Missouri           
3. Armstrong Atlantic (Ga.)     
4. Fort Lewis (Colo.)      
5. West Chester (Pa.)   
6. St. Edwards (Texas)  
7. Rollins (Fla.) 
8. Northern Kentucky  
9. UC San Diego  
10. Grand Valley State (Mich.) 
11. Columbus State (Ga.) 
12. California (Pa.) 
13. Seattle Pacific (Wash.) 
14. Metro State (Colo.)  
15. Florida Southern 
16. C.W. Post (N.Y.)  
17. West Florida 
18. BYU-Hawaii   
19. Wisconsin-Parkside  
20. Merrimack (Mass.)  
21. North Carolina Pembroke 
22. Kutztown (Pa.) 
23. Abilene Christian (Texas) 
24. Winona State (Minn.) 
25. Franklin Pierce (N.H.) 

Region Rankings
1. Armstrong Atlantic (12-1-2) 
2. Columbus State (14-1-1)
3. UNC Pembroke (12-2-2)
4. Wingate (8-2-3)
5. Lenoir-Rhyne (12-2-1)
6. Belmont Abbey (14-1-1)
7. North Georgia (12-3-0)
8. Georgia College (7-6-1)
9. Tusculum (8-6-1)
10. Carson-Newman (9-6-0)