UIC climbs to #4 in NSCAA regional rankings

Sept. 21, 2005

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INDIANAPOLIS -- First-year head men's soccer coach John Trask is quickly establishing a reputation at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In three short weeks, Trask has guided his Flames from last year's 5-12-2 overall mark to the No. 4 spot in the latest regional rankings according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

UIC's 3-0-1 start pushed the Flames up one spot from last week's rating in the Midwest Region. Perennial power Creighton (4-0-1) tops the local honor roll, followed by Missouri State (4-0-2), Bradley (5-2-0), UIC, and Tulsa (2-1-3). The second five features Memphis and Oral Roberts tied for sixth, ahead of Saint Louis, Southern Methodist and top-ten newcomer Western Kentucky.

In the Great Lakes Region, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee improved one position to eighth this week, following a 3-2 victory over Bradley. UWM (3-1-1 overall) is joined in the top ten by Butler University, with the Bulldogs falling five spots to tenth when two losses dropped the Bulldogs' record to 5-2-0.

Defending national champion Indiana (3-0-1) continues to hold the top spot in the national and Great Lakes region polls, but New Mexico made an unprecedented leap in the ratings when wins over Wisconsin and James Madison took the previously-unranked Lobos to second in the polls at 6-0-0. North Carolina (5-0-1), Virginia (4-0-1) and California (5-0-1) complete the top five, followed by Maryland (5-1-0), Akron (6-0-0), St. John's (4-1-1),Creighton (4-0-1) and Fairleigh Dickinson (5-0-1).

University of Detroit Mercy forward Andrew Ornoch earned individual recognition as a member of Soccer America's national "Team of the Week" for the period ending Sept. 18. The junior from Toronto, Ontario, netted four goals including a hat trick for all of his team's scoring in a 3-2 victory over IUPUI on Friday (Sept. 16), along with the eventual match-winner in a 2-0 triumph over host Northern Illinois on Sunday (Sept. 18). That performance made Ornoch the MVP of NIU's adidas/Baymont Inn Invitational.

Ornoch is the second Horizon League player recognized by the magazine this year. UIC goalkeeper Jeff Engelbrecht earned similar honors on Sept. 5 after a season-opening shutout over Loyola Marymount.

The team and individual honorees will meet head-to-head Sunday (Sept. 25) when Detroit travels to UIC. Butler hosts Xavier in non-conference play Friday (Sept. 23), while UW-Milwaukee faces Oregon State and host Gonzaga at the Nike Classic.

The NSCAA/adidas national rankings are released each Tuesday evening and can be found at www.nscaa.com through the "rankings" tab at the top of the page. Soccer America publishes its weekly survey at www.socceramerica.com. Links are provided on the "headlines" section.

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Soccer America Men's "Team of the Week"
September 20, 2005

GKBrian LeveyNew Hampshire
Posted a 2-0 shutout of Coastal Carolina after a 2-1 win over Furman

DEric BrunnerOhio State
Led OSU defense to shutout of Cal State-Fullerton, set up match-winner vs. UCLA

DJoris ClaessensSouth Florida
Scored twice to lift USF past Georgetown, 3-1, for 2nd straight win over a top 25 team

DChris TierneyVirginia
Played key role in Cavalier backline which has now shut out its last five opponents

MAndrew OrnochDetroit
Collected first four goals of the year, giving UDM wins over IUPUI (3-2) and Northern Illinois (2-0)

MCody HannaNew Mexico
First two collegiate goals were match-winners to defeat Wisconsin and James Madison

FCalen CarrCalifornia
Header gave Cal a 1-0 win over Santa Clara after his two-goal effort vs. San Francisco

FOmar CummingsCincinnati
Scored twice from long distance in UC's 2-0 win victory over then-#1 Connecticut

FRyan JohnsonOregon State
Set up all three OSU goals in a 3-0 win over UNLV, added a goal in 2-2 draw with Indiana

FMichael KrausCreighton
Scored both match-winners in victories over Memphis and Mercer

FRandi PattersonUNC Greensboro
Had a goal in a 3-1 win over UAB, added a goal and assist vs. Birmingham Southern

NSCAA / adidas Men's National Rankings
September 20, 2005
TeamRecordLW
1.Indiana4-0-21
2.New Mexico6-0-0NR
3.North Carolina5-0-12
4.Virginia4-0-14
5.California5-0-16
6.Maryland5-1-08
7.Akron6-0-09
8.St. John's4-1-110
9.Creighton4-0-115
10.Fairleigh Dickinson5-0-17
11.Duke4-1-021
12.Connecticut4-2-05
13.Santa Clara4-2-013
14.Missouri State4-0-211
15.Wake Forest4-2-014
16.Ohio State5-1-1NR
17.Clemson3-1-112
18.Seton Hall4-1-118
18.Notre Dame4-2-016
18.Old Dominion3-1-122
21.Binghamton5-1-120
22.UC Santa Barbara3-1-1NR
23.New Hampshire5-0-1NR
24.Washington4-1-0NR
25.UNC Wilmington5-1-0NR
25.UCLA3-2-017

Midwest Region
TeamRecordLW
1.Creighton4-0-12
2.Missouri State4-0-21
3.Bradley5-2-04
4.UIC3-0-15
5.Tulsa2-1-310
6.Memphis4-2-03
6.Oral Roberts3-2-18
8.Saint Louis2-3-18
9.Southern Methodist2-3-17
10.Western Kentucky3-2-1NR

Great Lakes Region
TeamRecordLW
1.Indiana4-0-21
2.Akron6-0-02
3.Ohio State5-1-14
4.Notre Dame4-2-03
5.Michigan5-2-07
6.Wisconsin4-2-08
7.Kentucky3-2-17
8.UW-Milwaukee3-1-19
9.Cincinnati3-2-1NR
10.Butler5-2-05