Kansas City, Mo. - The Central Methodist Women's Soccer program jumped two spots to No. 8 in the first regular-season edition of the NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 poll, which was announced by the national office Wednesday.
Other Heart programs featured or mentioned in the Top 25 include, No. 18 MidAmerica Nazarene, (RV) Benedictine, and (RV) Missouri Valley.
The Eagles have begun the 2023 season with a 3-1 record, with their only loss coming to No. 4 Cumberlands (Ky.) in the season opener. In their last three wins, Central has averaged more than four goals/match.
Newcomer Lacey Ann Murray leads the Eagles with four goals scored along with an assist. Mariana Barreto, Manuela Polachini, and Celine Witt have eached scored twice this season.
Central is set to host No. 16 nationally ranked John Brown (Ark.) Saturday, Sept. 9 at 1:00 p.m. at Davis Field.
To view the poll methodology and the complete Top 25 poll, please see below.
Rating Methodology
- The rating was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, Continental Athletic Conference (Independents), and Unaffiliated Groups.
- The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second place, and so on through the list.
- The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) is removed and the team's ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the teams appears on.
- Teams that receive only one point in the ballot are not considered "receiving votes."
- For the complete rating calendar, click here
| RANK | LAST TIME | SCHOOL [FIRST PLACE VOTES] | RECORD | POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Spring Arbor (Mich.) [16] | 3-0-0 | 496 |
| 2 | 4 | Cumberlands (Ky.) [1] | 4-0-1 | 473 |
| 3 | 5 | William Carey (Miss.) [1] | 4-0-0 | 464 |
| 4 | 2 | Marian (Ind.) | 4-0-1 | 462 |
| 5 | 3 | Keiser (Fla.) | 1-0-1 | 434 |
| 6 | 6 | Oklahoma Wesleyan | 2-0-1 | 417 |
| 7 | 8 | Aquinas (Mich.) | 1-0-1 | 386 |
| 8 | 10 | Central Methodist (Mo.) | 3-1-0 | 376 |
| 9 | 7 | Tennessee Southern (Tenn.) | 4-1-1 | 372 |
| 10 | 12 | Columbia (Mo.) | 3-0-0 | 367 |
| 11 | 11 | Southeastern (Fla.) | 0-0-0 | 324 |
| 12 | 14 | Indiana Wesleyan | 2-1-2 | 318 |
| 13 | 9 | Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) | 2-2-1 | 312 |
| 14 | 17 | SCAD Savannah (Ga.) | 4-0-0 | 284 |
| 15 | 15 | Cumberland (Tenn.) | 4-0-1 | 277 |
| 16 | 20 | John Brown (Ark.) | 4-0-0 | 273 |
| 17 | 19 | College of Idaho | 2-1-1 | 231 |
| 18 | 25 | MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) | 2-1-1 | 220 |
| 19 | 22 | Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) | 0-1-2 | 189 |
| 20 | 18 | Truett McConnell (Ga.) | 0-2-1 | 175 |
| 21 | NR | Hastings (Neb.) | 3-0-0 | 148 |
| 22 | NR | Georgia Gwinnett | 2-1-1 | 140 |
| 23 | 23 | Science & Arts (Okla.) | 4-1-0 | 131 |
| 24 | 20 | Campbellsville (Ky.) | 1-3-0 | 97 |
| 25 | NR | OUAZ (Ariz.) | 4-1-0 | 87 |
Dropped from Top 25: Grace (Ind.), Missouri Valley, Reinhardt (Ga.)
Receiving Votes: Southern Oregon 74, Benedictine (Kan.) 71, Taylor (Ind.) 58, St. Thomas (Fla.) 59, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 47, Grace (Ind.) 44, Missouri Valley 25, Reinhardt (Ga.) 23, Eastern Oregon 18, Hope International (Calif.) 15, Bellevue (Neb.) 10, Bethel (Tenn.) 9, University of Northwestern Ohio 9, Jamestown (N.D.) 6, Louisiana Christian 4
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