Currently playing professional soccer in Germany, Head Coach Jamath Shoffner learned early of his team’s breakthrough as he and interim head coach Michael Combs are in constant discussion about the team’s progress. “I’m just so proud right now of our players and our coaching staff for this accomplishment. Our players have set out, since my first recruiting class three years ago, that one of our goals would be to break into the top 25 teams in the country,” said Coach Shoffner from his home in Germany. “It’s taken a tremendous amount of hard work to get to this point, but I couldn’t be more proud of our players. For our program to go from three wins three years ago to a national ranking says so much about our commitment.”
Coach Shoffner and his staff, Michael Combs and Josh Riccardi, understand this monumental achievement took an overwhelming collaborative effort. “We couldn’t have made it this far had it not been for the support of our administration and community. I hope we can continue our run throughout the remainder of the season. I also hope our men can take some motivation from this ranking in order to work even harder,” added Coach Shoffner.
Upon returning from Germany later this year, Coach Shoffner can now take a step back, scratch his head again and reflect on his three year building process of his program’s success- but, more than likely, as with most champions, he and his staff will be busy setting even higher goals for the next three years.
2007 NAIA Men's Soccer Top 25 Poll - Oct. 3 (Rating #5)
|
RANK
|
LAST WEEK
|
SCHOOL (Region)
|
1st PLACE VOTES
|
2007 RECORD*
|
TOTAL POINTS
|
|
1
|
1
|
Concordia (Calif.) (II)
|
12
|
9-0-0
|
348
|
|
2
|
2
|
Azusa Pacific (Calif.) (II)
|
|
9-0-0
|
332
|
|
3
|
3
|
Graceland (Iowa) (V)
|
2
|
9-0-1
|
328
|
|
T4
|
5
|
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (XI)
|
|
9-1-0
|
299
|
|
T4
|
4
|
Southern Nazarene (Okla.) (VI)
|
|
8-0-2
|
299
|
|
6
|
7
|
Lee (Tenn.) (XIII)
|
|
11-1-1
|
276
|
|
7
|
6
|
Indiana Wesleyan (VIII)
|
|
9-1-1
|
261
|
|
8
|
11
|
Mobile (Ala.) (XIII)
|
|
7-2-1
|
242
|
|
9
|
10
|
Simon Fraser (B.C.) (I)
|
|
8-1-1
|
230
|
|
10
|
13
|
Fresno Pacific (Calif.) (II)
|
|
7-2-1
|
206
|
|
11
|
8
|
Ohio Dominican (IX)
|
|
9-1-0
|
186
|
|
12
|
20
|
Savannah Art & Design (Ga.) (XIV)
|
|
7-2-0
|
180
|
|
13
|
14
|
Hastings (Neb.) (III)
|
|
6-1-1
|
179
|
|
14
|
17
|
Berry (Ga.) (XIII)
|
|
9-1-0
|
170
|
|
15
|
16
|
Oklahoma City (VI)
|
|
7-1-1
|
161
|
|
16
|
18
|
Park (Mo.) (IV)
|
|
5-4-0
|
132
|
|
17
|
22
|
Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) (II)
|
|
8-0-0
|
114
|
|
18
|
15
|
Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) (XIII)
|
|
6-2-0
|
103
|
|
19
|
23
|
Judson (Ill.) (VII)
|
|
8-3-1
|
101
|
|
20
|
21
|
Baker (Kan.) (V)
|
|
7-3-0
|
93
|
|
21
|
12
|
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (XIV)
|
|
3-3-2
|
85
|
|
22
|
RV
|
Concordia (Ore.) (I)
|
|
9-2-0
|
50
|
|
23
|
RV
|
Maine - Fort Kent
|
|
10-0-0
|
34
|
|
24
|
RV
|
Montreat (N.C.) (XII)
|
|
9-2-1
|
29
|
|
T25
|
RV
|
Lambuth (Tenn.) (XI)
|
|
7-2-0
|
22
|
|
T25
|
RV
|
Mid-Continent (Ky.) (XI)
|
|
6-2-2
|
22
|
Others Receiving Votes:
Grand View (Iowa) (VII) 13; McKendree (Ill.) (V) 10; Notre Dame (Ohio) (IX) 10; Warner Southern (Fla.) (XIV) 9; The Master's (Calif.) (II) 7; Westminster (Utah) (I) 1