NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll
St. Thomas received all eight first-place votes to remain on top of the NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll for the seventh straight week, the association announced Wednesday. The Tommies went 6-0 on the week, running their win streak to 28 and their overall record to 34-2.
St. Thomas was only one of two teams to hold onto its previous ranking, as the rest of the top 25 was marked by a lot of movement top to bottom. Because of a large number of weather-related make-up games being played late in the season, teams are playing more games than usual at this time in the year, allowing for significant record changes in the span of a week.
No. 2 Linfield reaches its highest ranking of the year after running its own win streak to 14 to leave the Wildcats at 30-4 overall. Ithaca again stays right behind them at No. 3; the Bombers have not lost since March 28 and are currently 24-4.
Mississippi College continues to rise, making its first ever appearance in the top five at No. 4. The Choctaws enter the tough American Southwest Conference tournament after winning 32 of their last 36 games and their first ASC East Division title.
Chapman jumps two spots to round out the top five; the Panthers have just two games remaining on their schedule and are sitting at 27-10 overall.
Montclair State also makes a jump to No. 6 after going 6-0 on the week, as Louisiana College falls five spots to No. 7 after being swept by UT-Tyler. The Wildcats are 30-7 overall entering the ASC tournament. Whitworth remains at No. 8 after a 4-0 week, and Muskingum jumps a spot to No. 9. The Muskies have won 18 of their last 19, with the lone loss coming from current No. 20, Ohio Northern.
No. 10 Emory is on a 14-game win streak, while Luther went 10-0 on the week to jump 10 spots to No. 11. Moravian falls seven to No. 12, as Rhode island College jumps a spot to No. 13. Wisconsin-Oshkosh makes its first appearance at No. 14; the Titans have won eight out of the last nine and are currently 20-6 overall.
Plattsburgh State rounds out the top 15; the Cardinals are 21-7 overall and are scheduled to play 12 SUNYAC games in a stretch of six days through Sunday. Washington-St. Louis continues its rise to No. 16; after starting the season 5-4, the Bears have won 20 out their last 21 games. University of Redlands jumps four spots to No. 17, while Ramapo, Methodist and poll newcomer Ohio Northern round out the top 20.
Wisconsin-Stevens Point, at 26-6 overall, is No. 21, while Central falls 16 spots to No. 22 after a 3-3 week. Lynchburg reappears in a tie at the No. 22 spot after a three-week absence. Marietta shares No. 24 with Alma, who makes its first appearance in the 2007 poll at 23-7.
