University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Earns 15 Votes in NSCAA Poll; Ranked Sixth in Region (Nov. 16, 2011)
11/16/2011 1:39:00 PM | Men's Soccer
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Following its dramatic run to the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament title, the University of Delaware men's soccer team received 15 votes in this week's NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I National Top 25 Poll released Tuesday. Additionally, the Blue Hens also maintained the sixth spot in the South Atlantic Region.
Delaware entered last week's CAA Championship as the fourth seed, but moved on to the tournament semifinals after advancing past fifth-seeded Northeastern, 4-3 in penalty kicks, after the teams had played to a scoreless draw. The following night the Blue Hens were again tied after 110 minutes, as Delaware and 18-ranked James Madison were knotted at 2-2. However Delaware advanced again, edging the Dukes 5-4 in penalty kicks, to move on to the CAA final.
The Blue Hens then claimed their first conference tournament title in school history with a 2-1 victory over 18th-ranked Old Dominion on Sunday. After falling behind in the 20th minute, Delaware sophomore Vincent Mediate scored his first goal of the season off his own rebound to knot the contest in the 34th minute. Then in the 65th minute, Mediate crossed a ball into the box which was headed into the ODU goal by a Monarch defender to put the Blue Hens up for good.
The win gave Delaware it's school single season record 12th win of the season, as the Blue Hens improved to 12-5-4 overall.
Delaware's 15 votes in the national poll are the most in school history, and they are receiving the seventh most votes for teams ranked outside the top 25. Virginia, the Blue Hens' NCAA Tournament First Round opponent, is just ahead of Delaware with 17 votes this week. The Hens' sixth place South Atlantic Region ranking is tied for their highest this season, as Delaware was also ranked sixth last week.
The Blue Hens and Cavaliers will face off on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Klockner Stadium in Charlottesville. The winner of that game will advance to face fourth-ranked UCLA on Sunday in Los Angeles at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Men's Soccer National Poll (Nov. 15)
1. New Mexico; 2. Creighton; 3. North Carolina; 4. UCLA; 5. Connecticut; 6. Maryland; 7. UC Irvine; 8. Boston College; 9. Indiana; 10. Akron; 11. St. John's; 12. South Florida; 13. UC Santa Barbara; 14. Charlotte; 15. Louisville; 16. Northwestern; 17. Coastal Carolina; 18. Washington; 19. SMU; 20. UAB; 21. Old Dominion; 22. Furman; 23. Monmouth; 24. Bradley; T25. Xavier; T25. Fairfield.
