By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- After winning three games in a week and improving to 4-0-2 on the season, the Willamette University men's soccer team is ranked #12 in the NCAA Division III National Coaches Top 25 Poll released by the United Soccer Coaches on Tuesday, Sept. 20. Willamette was not ranked in the poll last week. The Bearcats also moved up to #1 in Region X after holding the #6 ranking a week ago. In between, Willamette defeated the University of California, Santa Cruz, 4-2, downed the University of Puget Sound, 2-1, and edged past defending Northwest Conference champion Pacific Lutheran University, 2-1.

"The national ranking is a by-product of the standard our staff and players hold themselves to every day," Willamette Head Men's Soccer Coach Sam Adelman said. "It's great to be recognized for our efforts up until this point. Our team goal this season is to win the NWC and gain the automatic bid going into the NCAA Tournament. These rankings don't connect with our goal as a program currently, but it's a great day to be a Bearcat, and the boys should be proud of their work."

The University of Chicago (Ill.) leads the NCAA Division III National Poll with a 7-0-0 record after advancing two spots from the #3 ranking last week. Chicago is followed by Messiah University (Pa.) at #2 with a 5-0-1 record and by a tie for #3 between Stevens Institute of Technology (N.J.) and Kenyon College (Ohio). Stevens Tech is 6-0-1 and Kenyon owns a 5-0-0 mark.

North Park University (Ill.) was ranked #5 at 6-0-0, while Johns Hopkins University (Md.) was #6 with a 5-0-2 record. Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) held the #7 ranking, also at 5-0-2, with Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) at #8 with a 6-0-0 mark, and Wesleyan University (Conn.) at #9 with a 5-0-0 record. Calvin University (Mich.) was ranked 10th at 5-0-2, while Bowdoin College (Maine) was 11th at 5-0-0. Willamette was listed at #12. Pacific Lutheran fell from #14 a week ago to #25 with a 5-1-0 record this week.

In the Region X rankings, Willamette was followed by the University of St. Thomas (Texas) at #2 with a 5-0-1 record. UST was ranked #20 in this week's Division III National Poll. Completing the Region X rankings were Pacific Lutheran at #3, Concordia University (Texas) at #4 with a 4-1-0 record, Puget Sound at #5 with a 4-1-3 record, Colorado College at #6 with a 3-2-1 mark, the University of Texas-Dallas at #7 with a 3-2-1 record, and Occidental College (Calif.) at #8 with a 2-1-1 record.

Willamette has outscored its opponents 15-8 this season. Seven Bearcats have contributed at least one goal, led by Pierce Gallaway (Sr., M, Carmel, CA/Carmel HS) with five goals and one assist for 11 total points and Jett Starr (Jr., F, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) with four goals and two assists for 10 points. Goalkeeper Pierluca Carnovale (Jr., GK, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) owns a 1.33 goals against average and has registered 22 saves.

The Bearcats will play at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, on Saturday, Sept. 24. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. Willamette will host George Fox University at Sparks Field in Salem, Oregon, at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25.