Kansas City, Kans. - The University of Minnesota soccer team has moved up to No. 17 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) top-25 poll, announced today (Aug. 25).

In the first regular season poll of 2009, Minnesota jumps up two spots from No. 19, where they were in the preseason.  The Golden Gopher's move comes after they opened the 2009 campaign with a 4-0 win over South Dakota State on Aug. 21. 

Minnesota claimed 235 points in the poll, behind No. 16 Georgia with 257 points.  The Bulldogs are next on the schedule for the Golden Gophers, as the two teams meet in Athens, Ga. on Aug. 28 for a 7:00 p.m. match-up. 

At No. 17, this is the highest regular season ranking for the Golden Gophers since they entered the post season ranked No. 10 in 1997.  The No. 10 ranking also stands as the highest ever for Minnesota.

Minnesota has now been ranked in eight consecutive NSCAA polls, dating back to last season.  League rival Penn State is the highest ranked Big Ten team, coming in at number eight with 567 points.  Illinois is the third and final Big Ten team in the rankings, at No. 13 with 314 points.  Preseason No. 1, North Carolina retains the top spot, earning all 32 first place votes.

Also announced today, were the NSCAA regional rankings, which saw Minnesota ranked fourth in the Great Lakes region.  Penn State and Illinois are number one and two respectively, with Purdue coming in at number three regionally.  In the national poll, the Boilermakers received 29 votes, but were left off the top-25.

After Georgia, Minnesota travels to Kennesaw State this weekend, for a 1:00 p.m. tilt on Aug. 30. 

NSCAA Top-25 Poll
No. School, Prev., W-L-T  
1. North Carolina, 1, 1-0-0
2. Notre Dame, 3, 1-0-0   
3. Portland, 4, 1-0-0   
4. Stanford, 2, 1-0-0   
5. Florida State, 6, 1-0-0   
6. Texas A&M, 7, 1-0-0   
7. Florida, 10, 1-0-0   
8. Penn State, 12, 1-0-0   
9. UCLA, 5, 0-1-0   
10. Virginia, 9, 0-1-0   
11. Duke, 16, 1-0-0   
12. USC, 8, 0-1-0   
13. Illinois, 17, 1-0-0   
14. West Virginia, 14, 0-0-1   
15. San Diego, 13, 1-1-0   
16. Georgia, 18, 1-0-0   
17. Minnesota, 19, 1-0-0   
18. Colorado, RV, 1-0-0   
19. Santa Clara, 22, 2-0-0   
20. Boston College, 23, 0-0-0   
21. Oklahoma State, 11, 0-1-0   
22. Missouri, 24, 1-0-0   
23. Rutgers, 20, 0-0-0   
24. Washington State, 21, 1-0-0   
25. Texas, 15, 0-1-0   

Also receiving votes: Wake Forest 99, California 77, TCU 45, BYU 34, Tennessee 33, Memphis 32, Purdue 29, Dayton 28, Long Beach State 17, Washington 12, Michigan State 9, Charlotte 6, Louisville 4, Pepperdine 4, South Carolina 3, Wisconsin-Milwaukee 3, LSU 1, Miami 1, Oklahoma 1, Georgetown 1, Connecticut 1, Ohio State 1

NSCAA Great Lakes Region Poll
No. School, W-L-T  
1. Penn State, 1-0-0   
2. Illinois, 1-0-0   
3. Purdue, 2-0-0   
4. Minnesota, 1-0-0   
5. Ohio State, 1-0-0   
6. Michigan State, 0-0-0   
7. Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 0-1-0   
8. Indiana, 1-0-0   
9. Toledo, 1-0-0   
10. Creighton, 1-0-1