2023 WAC MSOC Release Week 7

SEATTLE U CLIMBS TO #17 IN UNITED SOCCER COACHES TOP 25
Seattle U continued its climb in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll on Oct. 3, moving up six spots to 17th with a 7-2-2 record (2-0-0 WAC). The Redhawks, leaders in the WAC standings with six points, have earned a result in nine of their past 10 starts overall dating back to Aug. 27.

FOUR TEAMS UNBEATEN AFTER OPENING WEEK OF WAC MATCHES
Four teams emerged from the first week of WAC conference matches with unbeaten records. Conference leader Seattle U earned six points with a pair of wins against Utah Valley (5-2) and Air Force (2-0), while San José State logged four points after beating Air Force (1-0) and tying Utah Valley (1-1). Utah Tech shut out UTRGV 1-0 on the road and California Baptist blanked Grand Canyon 3-0 out of the gate to kickstart the conference slate.

CBU’S MENDEZ ON THE MARK IN WIN OVER GCU
California Baptist senior striker Leo Mendez kept his recent form rolling for the Lancers in the opening conference match of 2023 against Grand Canyon on Oct. 1. Mendez was involved in all three CBU goals in the match, scoring in the 12th and 28th minutes before adding an assist on an 89th minute tally in a 3-0 clean sheet triumph over the Lopes. Mendez earned conference offensive player of the week honors in recognition of the five-point performance.

WAC TEAMS IN THE NCAA RPI
In the latest release of the NCAA RPI for the 2023 season on Oct. 1, a pair of teams from the WAC were ranked among the national top 50 in the key metric that helps seed the NCAA Championship. WAC leader Seattle U checked in 27th with a 7-2-2 overall record, with Grand Canyon also among the top 50 slotted 44th with its 5-4-1 mark. Seattle U’s 21st ranked opponent strength of schedule was the best in the WAC as of Oct. 1.

WAC TEAMS AMONG THE NCAA LEADERS
As of the latest NCAA Division I men’s soccer national statistics report on Oct. 3, UTRGV was fourth in the country in shot accuracy by logging a .548 average on shot attempts on goal thus far this season, and Seattle U checked in sixth in total goals with 25. UTRGV’s Keaviano Francis checked in fourth individually in shot accuracy with a clip of .722. Grand Canyon goalkeeper Leon Schmidt ranked third in total saves (53) and seventh in saves per match (5.30), and teammate Jorge Lopez was seventh in match-winning goals (3).