September 1, 2015

Reigning national champs York open at No. 1 in CIS Soccer Top 10

OTTAWA (CIS) – Reigning champion Laval (women) and York (men) top the first national rankings of the 2015 CIS soccer season.

OTTAWA (CIS) – Reigning champion Laval (women) and York (men) top the first national rankings of the 2015 CIS soccer season.

On the women's side, Laval received 49 points in the inaugural coaches' poll to open at No. 1 for the second time in program history (2003). Trinity Western (45), Ottawa (37), Fraser Valley (29) and Montreal (27) round out the top five.

Last November, the Rouge et Or became the first team from the RSEQ conference to capture the Gladys Bean Memorial Trophy thanks to a resounding 5-0 gold-medal win over Trinity Western in front of their home crowd in Quebec City. The defending champs, who blanked UNB 3-0 in preseason action on Sunday, are set to open their 2015 regular schedule at home against Montreal on Sept. 11.

In men's competition, York earned its first season-opening No. 1 ranking since 2011. Rounding out the leading quintet are UQAM, UNB, McMaster and UBC.

Last fall in Charlottetown, the Lions claimed their fourth Sam Davidson Memorial Trophy thanks to a thrilling 1-0 victory against McMaster in an all-OUA national final. After going 1-0-1 in preseason action, York once again edged the Marauders on Sunday to kick off the new OUA schedule, this time by a 3-2 score in Hamilton.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

(regular season record) / votes / (previous ranking)

1. Laval (0-0-0) / 49 points / (-)

2. Trinity Western (0-0-0) / 45 / (-)

3. Ottawa (0-0-1) / 37 / (-)

4. Fraser Valley (0-0-0) / 29 / (-)

5. Montreal (0-0-0) / 27 / (-)

T6. Western (1-0-0) / 19 / (-)

T6. Laurier (2-0-0) / 19 / (-)

8. Alberta (0-0-0) / 15 / (-)

9. UBC (0-0-0) / 14 / (-)

10. UOIT (1-1-0) / 7 / (-)