D-II Poll: Air Force One
ATLANTA – For the fifth consecutive week, Air Force is the top team in the MCLA Division II New Balance Week Coaches Poll, which was released on Wednesday.
The Falcons (7-0), which are on an extended hiatus and won’t play again for another three weeks, grabbed 16 of the 27 first-place votes cast this week.
Lurking just behind the Academy at No. 2 for the fourth straight week is St. Thomas (9-0). The Tommies are idle until the first weekend in April, where they will face three Top 15 teams, including a pair of Top 5 outfits. St. Thomas was awarded the remaining 11 first-place votes.
Montana State (8-1), which breezed past a couple of ranked teams, sits in third. The Bobcats are gearing up for a game this Friday against blood rival and No. 20 Montana (2-4) for Big Sky bragging rights.
Grand Valley State (4-0) is averaging 20 goals per outing and are coming off a 23-1 demolition of St. John’s. The Lakers sit at No. 4 with Division I Western Michigan on the docket this weekend.
Rounding out the Top 5 is Rhode Island (5-0). The Rams are coming off a shutout of Southern Conn. State and will gear up for a big weekend in Ohio by hosting Division I UConn tomorrow.
There were no new additions to the poll this week.
MCLA D-II New Balance Coaches Poll – Week 6
RANK | TEAM | POINTS | 1st VOTES |
1. | Air Force | 663 | 16 |
2. | St. Thomas | 659 | 11 |
3. | Montana State | 618 | |
4. | Grand Valley State | 588 | |
5. | Rhode Island | 537 | |
6. | Kennesaw State | 513 | |
7. | UNC-Charlotte | 507 | |
8. | Coastal Carolina | 497 | |
9. | Florida Atlantic | 487 | |
10. | Cal State San Marcos | 442 | |
11. | Wake Forest | 385 | |
12. | Northwest Nazarene | 383 | |
13. | Dayton | 344 | |
14. | UC San Diego | 340 | |
15. | Norther Dakota State | 296 | |
16. | Denver | 219 | |
17. | Utah State | 180 | |
18. | Western Washington | 179 | |
19. | Bridgewater State | 167 | |
20. | Montana | 157 | |
21. | College of Idaho | 130 | |
22. | Missouri State | 129 | |
23. | Minn.-Duluth | 123 | |
24. | Florida Gulf Coast | 89 | |
25. | Northern Arizona | 82 |
Others receiving votes: Loyola Marymount (33), Appalachian State (22), UC Davis (4), UNC-Wilmington (2).