Men's Soccer Climbs in Coaches' Poll and MRPI Rankings | Schools

CLINTON, Iowa--On Tuesday, the Ashford University men's soccer team climbed four spots, to #18, in the weekly National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men's Soccer Coaches' Poll, but better news awaited on Wednesday.

As the Saints were in the process of defeating St. Ambrose University 5-0, Ashford landed as the #14-ranked team in the second men's soccer Modified Ratings Percentage Index (MRPI) of the year, a two-spot increase from the first rankings of the season which were released on Sept. 25.

The MRPI consists of the team's modified winning percentage, their opponents' winning percentage and the cumulative ranking points from the NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll.  Each of the three values has a weighted percentage calculated in the MRPI.  The MRPI modifies the value of home/away/neutral results and adds more value for games against opponents ranked in their respective national poll.  First adopted in 2010, the MRPI, will select the at-large qualifying teams and seed the 32-team national championship field.

Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) tops this edition of the MRPI while Auburn Montgomery, Concordia (Calif.), Rio Grande (Ohio) and Science & Arts (Okla.) round out the top five.  Rio Grande, the current #1-ranked team in the coaches' poll, defeated Lindsey Wilson earlier this season.

Ashford closes out the 2012 regular season on Tuesday, Oct. 30, when the Warriors of Indiana Tech visit Clinton.  Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.