Wisconsin earns top-25 ranking in five national polls
October 30, 2013 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 30, 2013
MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin men’s soccer team is peaking at the right time.
After a five-week drought of being left out of the NSCAA/Continental Tire Top-25, the Badgers returned to the national coaches' poll, checking in at No. 23.
Among its 10 wins, the team has taken down two current NSCAA/Continental Tire-ranked opponents—No. 18 Marquette on Oct. 3 and No. 22 Michigan State last Sunday.
Both wins came in shut out fashion, as the Badgers have the displayed the ability to rise to the occasion when facing tough opponents.
Wisconsin’s performance on the field has drawn attention from four other national polls, as well.
The Badgers rank 24th in Soccer America’s national top-25, 27th in College Soccer News’ top-30, 19th in Top Drawer Soccer’s top-25 poll and made their season-debut at No. 22 in Soccer Times’ weekly rankings.
Wisconsin will have an opportunity to further its case as one of the country’s elite collegiate soccer programs when it travels to Evanston, Ill., on Sunday to take on 25th-ranked Northwestern.
Although the contest will showcase a matchup of nationally ranked teams, the result has Big Ten Tournament implications, as well, as the Wildcats trail UW by just two points in the current conference standings.
Kickoff for Sunday's match is slated for 2 p.m. CT and will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.
Wisconsin puts the nation's longest home unbeaten streak on the line Wednesday evening, as it welcome Eastern Illinois to the McClimon for a 7 p.m. CT kickoff.
