Wednesday, October 24, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. - Three GNAC teams are ranked in this week's official NCAA Division II West Regional poll  led by Seattle Pacific in the No. 4 slot. Western Washington, which leads the GNAC with an 11-1 conference record, is ranked sixth followed by Montana State Billings at No. 7.

The poll will eventually determine which three at-large teams join the GNAC, PacWest and CCAA champions in next month's regional playoffs. The top three ranked teams - Cal State Stanislaus, Sonoma State and UC San Diego - are all from the CCAA,

The GNAC will determine its champion next week with a tournament at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila.

West Region – 1. Cal State Stanislaus (14-2-0); 2. Sonoma State (13-2-1); 3. UC San Diego (11-2-2); 4. Seattle Pacific (12-2-2); 5. Cal Poly Pomona (9-4-2); 6. Western Washington (14-2-0); 7. Montana State Billings (12-4-0); 8. Cal State L.A. (7-5-4); 9. Cal State San Bernardino (7-7-2); 10. Cal State Monterey Bay (8-7-0). (Note: Records are versus Division II opponents).

Western Washington 14th in National Poll

Western Washington made a big leap in this week's NSCAA NCAA Division II women's soccer national poll Tuesday vaulting 11 spots from 25th to 14th.  The Vikings also moved up one spot in the NSCAA West Regional poll climbing to No. 2.

Western Washington (14-2-0, 11-1-0), which has won nine straight, all by shutouts, completes its regular season this week hosting Central Washington on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.  Seattle Pacific, which is ranked 21st, is unbeaten in its last 10 contests and begins the week with a six-game win streak.

The Vikings come in as the nation's stingiest defensive team, allowing just three goals in 12 contests.  Goalkeeper Jamie Arthurs ranks first nationally in goals against (0.25) and fifth in save percentage (.902).

Seattle Pacific is led by Megan Lindsay, who scored four goals last week, and leads the conference with 10 goals and 24 points.  Lindsay needs just one more point to become the sixth player in GNAC history to score 100 or more career points.

NCAA National Statistics (Oct. 21): Team (Top 30):  Goals Against – 1. Western Washington 0.25. Shutout PCT. – 1. Western Washington .813; 17. MSU Billings .563.  Save PCT. – 3. Western Washington .907. Individuals (Top 30):  Goals Against – 1. Jamie Arthurs, WWU, 0.25.  Save PCT. – 5. Jamie Arthurs, WWU, .902.  Game-Winning Goals – 18.  Megan Lindsay, SPU, 4.