KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Fort Lewis College men’s soccer team (4-0-0 overall) climbed 12 spots today in the national rankings to No. 6 in the third NCAA Division II poll of the season, released earlier today by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and Continental Tire.

The Skyhawks, ranked No. 18 a week ago, defeated previous No. 19 Truman State 2-0 and previous No. 8 Colorado Mines 2-1 last week.

 “We have had a great start to the season and have come up against some really strong teams from throughout the nation,” said third-year FLC head coach Oige Kennedy. “And with this past weekend’s results against two top-ranked opponents we have managed to put ourselves back into the Top 10 soccer teams in the country. It is a great position to be in at the early part of the year but we are very conscious that the only ranking that will matter is where we finish come the end of the season.”  

The Skyhawks travel to Colorado State-Pueblo (0-3-1) for a 2:30 p.m. tilt against the ThunderWolves Sunday.

“The team is looking forward to playing our first away game of the year against CSU-Pueblo on Sunday and to be hosting some Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games next week with Colorado Mesa, Adams State and UC-Colorado Springs all coming to play at Dirks Field.

After a one-game road trip, the Skyhawks return home for a trio of games the following week: against Colorado Mesa (0-3-1) on Wednesday, Sept. 21, Adams State (1-1-1) on Friday, Sept. 23, and UC-Colorado Springs (2-2-0) on Sunday, Sept. 25. All three contests will be played at 3:30 p.m.

The RMAC placed three teams in the Top 25 and had a fourth receive votes in the third coaches’ poll of the season: No. 6 Fort Lewis, No. 13 Colorado Mines, and No. 17 Regis. Metro State received votes.

The complete poll includes:

1. Northern Kentucky
2. Rollins (Fla.)
3. Midwestern State (Texas)
4. Southern New Hampshire
5. Mercyhurst (Pa.)
6. Fort Lewis (Colo.)
7. Clayton State (Ga.)
8. Barry (Fla.)
9. Franklin Pierce (N.H.)
10. Cal. State-Los Angeles
11. Montevallo (Ala.)
12. California (Pa.)
13. Colorado Mines
14. Northeastern State (Okla.)
15. C.W. Post (N.Y.)
16. Saint Leo (Fla.)
17. Regis (Colo.)
18. Ashland (Ohio)
19. Notre Dame de Namur (Calif.)
20. West Virginia Wesleyan
21. Mars Hill (N.C.)
22. Texas A&M International
23. Tiffin (Ohio) and Cal. State-Dominguez Hills

25. Dowling (N.Y.)

Also receiving votes: Lynn (Fla.), Simon Fraser (B.C.), Missouri Science & Technology, Lees-McRae (N.C.), Metro State (Colo.), Lock Haven (Pa.)

Additionally, the NCAA Division II regional rankings were announced today. The Skyhawks are ranked third in the Central Region:

1. Fort Lewis (Colo.)
2. Colorado Mines
3. Regis (Colo.)
4. Metro State (Colo.)
5. UC-Colorado Springs
6. Adams State
7. Mary (N.D.)
8. Colorado Mesa
9. Colorado State-Pueblo
10. Colorado Christian