Press Releases

October 2, 2001
Colonial Men's and Women's Soccer Teams Are Both Ranked

First Time Feat After Both Squads Win at Powerhouse West Chester

Contact:
Darren Johnson
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

For the first time in Southampton College history, both Colonials men's and women's soccer squads have simultaneously made it into a weekly NCAA poll. The men are ranked No. 5 and the women No. 9 in the Northeast among Div. II teams in a poll released October 1 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, the sport's governing body, and adidas. Both teams were unranked the previous week, but moved into the polls after winning games with identical 2-0 scores at powerhouse West Chester (Pa.) on September 29.

The men's squad (4-2-1) started the year No. 19 in the country in a pre-season poll, but fell out of rankings after a 0-2-1 start. Since then, the team has gone on a four-game win streak with the return from injury of dazzling scorer Peter Nilsson of Goteborg, Sweden, who has pumped in 10 goals during the four games. Last year, Nilsson was New York Collegiate Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year with 18 goals. The Colonial men are not newcomers to polls, ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation last year en route to their second-straight NYCAC crown.

The women's team (5-2) hasn't been among the region's best since 1991, when they went to the Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament finals. However, returning junior all-stars Begga Laxdal and Joanna Ferguson, the team has seen a resurgence with several high-caliber rookies. Freshman Asa Birgersdotter of Stockholm, Sweden, has scored 10 goals so far this season, leading her team. She and Nilsson are both on pace to break single-season scoring records at the College.