United Soccer Coaches rankings
HAVERFORD, Pa. – For the fourth straight week, the Haverford College women's soccer team is on the cusp of a top 25 ranking as the Fords are receiving votes in both the United Soccer Coaches and D3Soccer.com Top 25 polls. Haverford gained six more votes in the D3Soccer.com poll and is now tied for fourth in voting points among those receiving votes. The Fords are the second team receiving votes in the rankings done by the United Soccer Coaches.
Haverford (11-2-2, 5-1-2 CC) keeps its spot among the nation's best after a hard-fought 1-0 defeat against No. 16 Dickinson in what was a showdown for the top spot in the Centennial Conference this past Saturday. The Fords' setback was their first since the season opener as they were riding a 13 match unbeaten streak into that contest. Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Fords are sitting in fourth place in the Centennial Conference. However, they are just a single point out of second and two points ahead of the final playoff spot.
The Fords will wrap up their regular season this week with Tri-Co neighbors Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore. Haverford travels to Bryn Mawr this afternoon for a 4 p.m. start in which the Fords can officially punch their ticket to the Centennial Conference Tournament. On Saturday, the team will welcome Swarthmore to Walton Field for a 12 p.m. noon start. In addition to the regular season finale, Saturday's rivalry game will also be Senior Day for the six graduating players on the Fords.
Heading full speed into the postseason, it is no surprise that the Centennial Conference continues to dominate the regional rankings with a close playoff chase. Johns Hopkins (No. 2), Dickinson (No. 4), and Haverford (No. 6) all kept their spot in the Mid-Atlantic rankings compiled by the United Soccer Coaches Association. Swarthmore fell two spots to No. 9 in the region, allowing Gettysburg and McDaniel to move into their respective seventh and eighth place spots in the poll.
The NCAA will release its second regional rankings of the fall season on Wednesday afternoon which take into account all matches that have been played through this past weekend. The Fords were ranked fourth in that initial NCAA release which ultimately leads up to the selection of at-large bids for the NCAA Tournament.