Sept. 6, 2016
NSCAA Division I Men's Rankings
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Fresh of its victory over No. 1 Akron last Friday, the San Diego State men's soccer team displayed upward mobility in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) rankings this week, climbing into the No. 13 spot on Tuesday in the second Division I poll of the 2016 regular season. Additionally, the Aztecs moved into the No. 2 position in the NSCAA Division I Far West Region rankings.
SDSU catapulted 10 places out of the 23rd spot in the NSCAA national poll from a week ago, collecting 302 points to outpace No. 14 Creighton (298 pts.) and No. 15 Virginia Tech (239 pts.), while Utah Valley holds down the No. 12 spot with 314 points. With their jump, the Aztecs find themselves with their highest national ranking since at least the 2000 campaign.
The Aztecs are one of three Pac-12 Conference teams in the latest NSCAA poll, joining No. 8 UCLA (408 pts.) and No. 24 Stanford (76 pts.), while Washington, California and Oregon State are all receiving votes.
Bolstered by 15 first-place votes, Notre Dame (606 pts.) took over the No. 1 spot in this week's rankings, topping No. 2 Clemson (593 pts.), which racked up five first-place votes, while North Carolina (549 pts.), Indiana (524 pts.) and Maryland (516 pts.) round out the top five.
SDSU is coming off a tremendous 1-0 win at home over top-ranked Akron on Sept. 2, with redshirt senior Travis Nicklaw providing the game-winning goal on a penalty kick in the 59th minute. Goalkeeper Adam Allmaras, a redshirt junior, preserved the shutout with two saves, earning Pac-12 Men's Soccer Player of the Week honors in the process.
The Aztecs will return to the pitch on Friday, Sept. 9, when they play host to UT Rio Grande Valley in the Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central Tournament. Match time is set for 7 p.m. PT at SDSU Sports Deck. The Scarlet and Black will then close off the weekend with a game against Memphis on Sunday, Sept. 11, beginning at 1 p.m. PT.