KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Dec. 17) – After winning the regional title and advancing to the quarterfinals in their first NCAA Tournament appearance, the Vulcans were recently ranked No. 9 in the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas® Division II Top 25 poll.
Under third-year head coach
Al Alvine, the California University of Pennsylvania women’s soccer team shattered the previous school record (12) for wins in a season with a 19-6-1 overall mark in 2009. This season also marked the program’s first-ever Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West title and appearance in the league tournament.
After losing in the semifinals of the PSAC Tournament, the Vulcans earned their first-ever at-large berth to the 2009 NCAA Tournament and went on to capture the Atlantic Regional Championship. In the quarterfinals, Cal U lost to No. 2 Saint Rose (N.Y.), who entered the game as the only undefeated and untied team in the nation.
Cal U was one of the top scoring teams in the PSAC this season behind a career-high 19 goals by senior forward
Amanda Heister (Palmyra, Pa./Northern Lebanon), who was selected the PSAC West Athlete of the Year. With the return of three starting defenders from 2008 and the addition of goalkeeper
Paula Jackson (Kingston, Jamaica/Wolmer's Trust), the Vulcans were among the elite defenses in the nation by allowing only 0.68 goals per game and registering a school-record 14 shutouts.
This marks the first time in school history that the Vulcans finished the year ranked in the NSCCA Top 25. Cal U, who is the top ranked team from the PSAC in the poll, made the largest move up in the national poll.
NSCAA/adidas® TOP 25 POLL
| Rank |
School |
Record |
| 1. |
Grand Valley State |
22-0-4 |
| 2. |
West Florida |
21-0-1 |
| 3. |
Cal State Dominguez Hills |
16-8-3 |
| 4. |
Saint Rose (N.Y.) |
24-1-0 |
| 5. |
Carson-Newman (Tenn.) |
20-3-1 |
| 6. |
West Texas A&M |
15-3-4 |
| 7. |
Colorado Mines |
19-5-1 |
| 8. |
Northern Kentucky |
19-2-1 |
| 9. |
California (Pa.) |
19-6-1 |
| 10. |
Metro State (Colo.) |
21-1-2 |
| 11. |
Columbus State (Ga.) |
16-3-3 |
| 12. |
Rollins (Fla.) |
16-2-2 |
| 13. |
Franklin Pierce (N.H.) |
18-5-1 |
| 14. |
Cal State Los Angeles |
17-3-2 |
| 15. |
UC San Diego |
15-5-2 |
| 16. |
St. Edward's (Texas) |
16-3-3 |
| 17. |
Indiana (Pa.) |
14-7-2 |
| 18. |
West Chester |
19-2-1 |
| 19. |
Fort Lewis (Colo.) |
18-3-3 |
| 20. |
Bridgeport (Conn.) |
16-2-3 |
| 21. |
Incarnate Word (Texas) |
15-3-3 |
| 22. |
Bellarmine (Ky.) |
14-4-1 |
| 23. |
Armstrong Atlantic State (Ga.) |
16-4-3 |
| 24. |
Florida Tech |
15-4-1 |
| 25. |
Kutztown |
15-6-2 |
12/17/09