WCU Jump into #2 in the Nation!

Kansas City, MO.

The NAIA released the first regular season Coaches' Top 25 poll, with William Carey University jumping up 5 spots to take the #2 position. Oklahoma Wesleyan University take top spot, after reigning NAIA National Champions and pre-season #1 Hastings College (Neb.) drop to #4.

SSU holds particular interest in the William Carey Crusaders, as one of their own, Paul Bracken leads the attack in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. #PB10 has switched from his natural position through the middle to play as a wide winger on the right hand side of WCU's pronged attack. His relentless work ethic combined with his naturally attack-minded style of play, give WCU a returning player of huge calibre. Starting in all three of their games this season, #PB10 has registered an assist and provided defensive cover to sure up the right hand side of this Crusader team, who have only conceded twice in three games. Bracken picked up a minor foot injury in the 3-1 win over then #11 Bryan College (now, #16), so he sat out of last nights home win over Life University (4-3).

Bracken will hopefully return to the field in WCU's next encounter on Monday 11th September as they take on RV Keiser University. (Game subject to further information on Hurricane Irma).

Take a look at the full list of the Coaches Top 25 poll below;

2017 NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll - No. 1 (Sept. 5)

SCHOOL 2017 Record TOTAL POINTS

1 Oklahoma Wesleyan 2-0 464

2 William Carey (Miss.) 3-0 441

3 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 3-0 431

4 Hastings (Neb.) 2-1 420

5 Rio Grande (Ohio) 2-1391

6 Corban (Ore.) 3-0 389

7 University of Northwestern Ohio 0-1 380

8 Missouri Valley 3-0 357

9 Campbellsville (Ky.) 2-0 327

T-10 Mobile (Ala.) 2-0 319

T-10 Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 2-0 319

12 Baker (Kan.) 2-1 308

13 Georgia Gwinnett 2-0 301

14 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 2-0 268

15 Benedictine (Kan.) 2-0 249

16 Bryan (Tenn.) 2-2 240

17 Vanguard (Calif.) 4-1 218

18 Midland (Neb.) 2-1 185

19 St. Thomas (Fla.) 2-1 167

20 Thomas (Ga.) 1-2 141

21 Union (Ky.) 1-1 126

22 Menlo (Calif.) 1-1 111

23 Dalton State (Ga.) 2-1 104

T-24 Wayland Baptist (Texas) 2-1 93

T-24 Marymount (Calif.) 0-2 93

Dropped from Top 25: Spring Arbor (Mich.), Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.), Grand View (Iowa), WVU Tech, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), John Brown (Ark.)

Others Receiving Votes: Spring Arbor (Mich.) 92; Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) 62; Grand View (Iowa) 57; Cumberland (Tenn.) 54; UC Merced 35; Johnson & Wales (Fla.) 32; Oklahoma City 31; Tennessee Wesleyan 29; Westmont (Calif.) 27; Madonna (Mich.) 22; Martin Methodist (Tenn.) 21; Judson (Ill.) 18; Northwestern (Iowa) 15; Bethel (Ind.) 9; Keiser (Fla.) 9; Bellevue (Neb.) 6; LSU Alexandria 4.