Eagles No. 3 In First Release Of Midwest Region Rankings

Eagles No. 3 In First Release Of Midwest Region Rankings

The Ashland University women's soccer team is ranked No. 3 in the first release of the NCAA Division II Midwest Region rankings issued on Wednesday (Oct. 30) afternoon.

The top eight teams in the region after the conference tournaments will earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament with automatic spots going to the tournament champions of the GLIAC, Great Lakes Valley and Great Midwest Athletic Conferences.

The top two teams in the rankings will earn the chance to host the first and second rounds of the tournament at their home sites.

The Eagles (12-1-1, 6-0 GLIAC) are ranked No. 11 in the nation, have won nine straight games, and are unbeaten in their last 11. They are coming off a 2-0 week in the Upper Peninsula where they outscored Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan, 9-1.

Ashland is looking to qualify for its second straight NCAA Tournament after earning the No. 7 seed last season. 

The Eagles are heading into a crucial game on Friday (Nov. 1) at 7 p.m. at Ferguson Field against the nation's second-ranked team Grand Valley State. The Lakers (13-1) are No. 1 in the regional rankings. The teams are tied atop the GLIAC standings.

The game will feature a pregame tailgate starting at 6 p.m. with a pizza provided by Village Point Parlor and an in-house DJ. There will also be Chipotle gift card giveaway for AU students.

The full Midwest Region rankings follow.

Team D-II Record In-Region Record
1. Grand Valley State 13-1-0 11-1-0
2. Findlay 11-0-1 11-0-1
3. Ashland 12-1-1 12-1-1
4. Bellarmine 11-3-2 11-3-2
5. Rockhurst 12-3-0 12-3-0
6. Ferris State 11-3-2 9-3-2
7. McKendree 11-3-2 11-3-2
8. Walsh 10-4-0 10-4-0
     
9. UIndy 11-3-1 11-3-1
10. Cedarville 9-5-0 9-5-0

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