Men's soccer team slips two spots in regional poll, receiving votes in national polls

OLIVET, Mich. -- The 14-2-1 Olivet College men's soccer team has slipped two spot to No. 4 in National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Central Region Poll. In addition, the Comets are only receiving votes in the NSCAA Division III national rankings.

Olivet posted a 1-1 record in its two games last week. The Comets fell to Hope College, 2-1, on Wednesday, Oct. 17, and bounced back to beat Kalamazoo College, 2-1, in overtime on Saturday, Oct. 20.

The top three teams in the regional poll are Dominican (Ill.) University at No. 1, followed by Wheaton (Ill.) College and Calvin College.

In addition, the Comets are now No. 23 in the D3soccer.com Top 25 poll, which is voted on by a panel of coaches, sports information directors and media members from across the country, and is published weekly.

The NCAA has released its weekly statistical rankings. As a team, Olivet is fifth in total assists (49), 15th in total points (139) and 20th in win-loss-tied percentage (.853). Sophomore Esteban Russell (DeWitt) is second in total assists (14) and assists per game (0.82), and 23rd in total points (32). Junior Fred Smyser (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Eastern) is 25th in total assists (eight).

• Click here for the complete NSCAA regional poll
• Click here for the complete NSCAA national rankings
• Click here for the D3soccer.com Top 25 poll

Olivet returns to the field with two road contests this week. Tomorrow, the Comets will play a 7 p.m. game at Adrian and on Saturday, they will travel to play Alma College at 2:30 p.m. Olivet then wraps-up its regular season schedule next Tuesday, Oct. 30, with a 4 p.m. game against Trine (Ind.) University. A win in any of the three remaining games would guarantee at least a No. 2 seed for the Comets in the 2012 MIAA Men's Soccer Tournament.