By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's soccer team, which swept its recent road trip with a 2-1 win at Whitworth University on Oct. 1 and a 3-2 win at Whitman College on Oct. 2, has advanced three positions to #7 in this week's NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Coaches Poll released by the United Soccer Coaches on Tuesday, Oct. 4. Willamette was ranked #10 in the nation a week ago. The Bearcats remain #1 in Region X of NCAA Division III. It is WU's third consecutive week leading the region.

Willamette is 8-0-2 on the season and 6-0-0 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats have set a school record by going 12 consecutive games without a loss. Willamette has earned 10 wins and two ties since the final two games of the 2021 fall season.

In the NWC, Willamette holds first place with 18 points for a two-game lead (six points) over Pacific Lutheran University in second at 4-2-0 with 12 points. Linfield University and Whitworth University are tied for third place in the NWC with records of 3-2-1 for 10 points.

The University of Chicago (Ill).) retained the #1 ranking in the NCAA Division III National Poll with a 10-0-0 record. Messiah University (Pa.) was ranked #2 with a 9-0-0 mark, while Stevens Institute of Technology (N.J.) followed at #3 with an 8-0-1 record. Kenyon College (Ohio) was #4 at 9-0-0. Messia, Stevens Tech, and Kenyon all held their ranking from a week ago. The only new team in the Top 5 was Johns Hopkins University (Md.), which moved up from #6 to #5 with an 8-0-0 record.

North Park University (Ill.) fell one spot to #6 in the poll at 9-1-0. Willamette was next at #7, with Hamilton College (N.Y.) at #8 with a 7-0-1 mark, Washington & Lee University (Va.) at #9 with a 8-1-1 record, and Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) at #10 with a 7-0-3 record. Hamilton and W&L each moved up four spots, while Gustavus Adolphus slipped three spots.

Willamette held the #1 ranking in Region X. The University of St. Thomas (Texas) was listed at #2 with a 7-0-2 record and Pacific Lutheran University was #3 at 8-2-0. Occidental College (Calif.) ws ranked #4 at 7-2-1, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) was #5 at 5-1-2, and Chapman University (Calif.) was #6 at 4-1-4. Completing the Top 8 were Colorado College at #7 with a 5-2-3 record and the University of the Ozarks (Ark.) at #8 with a 7-1-2 record.

The Bearcats will host Linfield University at Sparks Field in an NWC battle on Sunday, Oct. 9. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (PDT).