UIC men's soccer team gains highest-ever ranking with No. 11 spot in <i>Soccer America</i> poll

Sept. 12, 2006

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Chicago, Ill. -- In his second season, John Trask has taken the University of Illinois at Chicago men's soccer team into new territory. Namely, the No. 11 ranking in the country, according to the latest Soccer America poll released Monday (Sept. 11). UIC also begins the week rated 18th by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and 19th according to College Soccer News.

The Flames are off to a 4-0-2 start which includes road victories over two teams ranked in the Top 25 at the time. After opening the season by defeating (then-No. 24) Saint Louis University 2-1 on August 26, UIC edged UC Santa Barbara 2-1 last Friday (Sept. 8). UCSB's No. 7 ranking in the previous CSN poll made the Gauchos---also 12th in the SA poll and 19th according to the NSCAA---the highest-ranked team ever defeated by the Flames.

Senior forward Eric Cervantes netted the match-winner with 31 seconds remaining in regulation at UCSB, while senior forward Tonci Skroce added his team-high third goal of the season to erase a 1-0 deficit earlier in the half. Freshman goalkeeper Jovan Bubonja leads the League with a 0.58 goals-against average, anchoring a defense which has allowed only 35 shots in six matches as UIC has outscored its opponents, 9-3.

The Flames entered the national Top 25 for the first time in nearly five years last week, and the six-match unbeaten streak represents the best start in school history.

UIC also shares the top spot in the NSCAA's Great Lakes Region poll, tying Indiana University and the University of Notre Dame (each 3-2-1) while Wright State University drew its first recognition of the year by tying for No. 8 in the regional rankings. The Raiders improved to 4-2-0 with 3-2 victories over Jacksonville University and the University of Central Florida over the weekend. Freshman forward Braden Fleak scored a goal in each match and began the week atop the League scoring charts with six goals and 12 points.

The Flames' current status marks the first time the school has been No. 1 in a regional poll. UIC's No. 18 national ranking by SA last week was the school's best in-season showing ever before the current standings.

Both teams' rankings will be tested on the road this week, with UIC at Florida International University on Friday and at Florida Atlantic University on Sunday. Wright State travels to in-state rival Bowling Green State University for a Sunday matinee.

The Great Lakes Region top ten also includes Northwestern University (5-1-0) in fourth spot, followed by the University of Akron (4-1-0), Michigan State University (5-1-0) and Northern Illinois University (4-2-0). The University of Wisconsin and the University of Michigan (each 3-3-0) round out the trio of teams tied for eighth position.

Southern Methodist University (6-0-0) took the top spot in all three major national polls ater losses by the University of North Carolina and Maryland last week. Atlantic Coast Conference teams hold four of the next five spots in the NSCAA poll, led by No. 2 Clemson University (5-0-0) and third-rated University of Virginia (5-0-0). The University of Washington (5-0-0) breaks that string with Duke University (5-0-0) fifth.Virginia stands ahead of Clemson and Duke in the SA rankings, with North Carolina State University (5-1-0) jumping to fifth after defeating North Carolina, 3-1. Duke and Clemson trade places in the CSN poll as Maryland stands fifth in that canvass.

###

Note: The three major national polls---and the NSCAA Great Lakes Region poll---can be found in the PDF version of this release.