Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Ranked No. 19 in Coaches’ Poll
8/21/2018 1:33:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern jumped to No. 19 in the country, according to the first in-season United Soccer Coaches Poll, released Tuesday.
The Wildcats previously received eight votes in the preseason poll, tied for the eighth-most votes received outside of the top 25. The leap to 19th was the largest of any team receiving votes.
Northwestern started its season with a perfect 2-0 weekend at the Hoosier Challenge Cup hosted by Indiana. The 'Cats knocked off Miami of Ohio, 2-1, and toppled Wake Forest in a 2-0 shutout. The Demon Deacons received the third-most votes outside of the top 25 in the preseason poll and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year.
The win over Wake Forest was just Northwestern's second-ever win over an ACC team and its first since 2002. The Wildcats also started their season off with at least a two-game win streak for the fourth straight season in a row.
The Wildcats are just one of two Big Ten teams in the top-25 along with Penn State, who sits at No. 3. Rutgers and Minnesota both are receiving over 100 votes in the latest poll while Nebraska and Illinois are each receiving two.
Chicago's Big Ten Team returns to Indiana this weekend for a pair of Big 12 matchups at the Boilermaker Challenge Cup hosted by Purdue. The 'Cats play Iowa State on Friday, Aug. 24 and No. 25 West Virginia, who was previously ranked No. 10 in the preseason poll, on Sunday, Aug. 26.
The Wildcats previously received eight votes in the preseason poll, tied for the eighth-most votes received outside of the top 25. The leap to 19th was the largest of any team receiving votes.
Northwestern started its season with a perfect 2-0 weekend at the Hoosier Challenge Cup hosted by Indiana. The 'Cats knocked off Miami of Ohio, 2-1, and toppled Wake Forest in a 2-0 shutout. The Demon Deacons received the third-most votes outside of the top 25 in the preseason poll and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year.
The win over Wake Forest was just Northwestern's second-ever win over an ACC team and its first since 2002. The Wildcats also started their season off with at least a two-game win streak for the fourth straight season in a row.
The Wildcats are just one of two Big Ten teams in the top-25 along with Penn State, who sits at No. 3. Rutgers and Minnesota both are receiving over 100 votes in the latest poll while Nebraska and Illinois are each receiving two.
Chicago's Big Ten Team returns to Indiana this weekend for a pair of Big 12 matchups at the Boilermaker Challenge Cup hosted by Purdue. The 'Cats play Iowa State on Friday, Aug. 24 and No. 25 West Virginia, who was previously ranked No. 10 in the preseason poll, on Sunday, Aug. 26.
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