The Ashland University women's soccer team continued its climb up the national rankings, moving up to No. 14 in the United Soccer Coaches poll released on Tuesday (Oct. 22) afternoon.
The Eagles (10-1-1, 4-0 GLIAC) have won their last seven games and are unbeaten in their last nine after a 2-1 win over visiting Saginaw Valley in non-league action on Saturday afternoon.
It is the highest national ranking for the Eagles since Sept. 13, 2005 when they were No. 13 in the country.
Ashland has been stout defensively all season, giving up just nine goals in 11 games, including just two goals over the last five. The Eagles have also had three of the last four GLIAC Defensive Players of the Week.
In their only game last week against Saginaw Valley, the Eagles out-shot the Cardinals, 16-10. After SVSU equalized just seconds before halftime, senior Emily Ledbetter canned the game-winner in the 69th minute to lift the hosts to the victory.
Ashland, under second-year head coach Taylor Clarke, has already matched its win total from last season when they advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.
The Eagles will hit the road this week to take on Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan, starting in Houghton on Friday (Oct. 25) at 7 p.m.
AU next plays at Ferguson Field on Nov. 1 against No. 3 Grand Valley State, the only other GLIAC team in the national poll.
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