Men's Soccer Climbs to No. 22 in National Polls
September 10, 2002 | Men's Soccer
The Wisconsin men's soccer team has returned to the Division I national rankings for the first time since 1997. Released late Monday afternoon, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas national rankings positioned Wisconsin at No. 22 for the week of Sept. 9. The Badgers improved their overall record to 4-0 after winning the Gonzaga Nike Soccer Classic in Spokane, Wash., this past weekend.
Wisconsin has been absent from the national polls since a 16th-place finish by the Badgers on Sept. 16, 1997, the only national ranking for then first-year head coach Kalekeni M. Banda. It was the only appearance by Wisconsin in the national polls during Banda's five years at the helm of the men's soccer program.
Prior to 1997, Wisconsin earned a season-high seventh place on Oct. 15, 1996, one of nine weeks spent in the national polls for the Badgers under head coach Jim Launder. Wisconsin's 1995 NCAA Championship team finished its winning season at No. 5 in the nation, the highest finish for a team that ranked nationally throughout the season.
Joining UW in this week's polls, Big Ten opponent Indiana sits at No. 9 with a 1-1-2 record after finishing at No. 4 last week, while Penn State also climbed into the polls to No. 18 after beating nationally-ranked Virginia. Wisconsin will play Penn State Oct. 6 at home, then travels to Indiana Oct. 11.
For more information on NSCAA/adidas rankings, visit www.nscaa.com.
