Box Score
The first Division II regional rankings were announced Wednesday afternoon by the NCAA, and the South Region was dominated by schools from the Sunshine State Conference. The top seven spots are held by members of the SSC, with Florida Southern sitting at #7. Six teams will be selected for the NCAA South Region Tournament on November 7, with the winner of the SSC Tournament an automatic qualifier, and the winner of the Gulf South Conference Tournament also receiving an automatic bid.
Ranked #1 in the South Region is Saint Leo (12-1-1), a team whose only loss came to Lindsey Wilson, the top-ranked NAIA team in the country. Rollins (10-1-1) is #2, and the Tars’ only loss came to Saint Leo on October 7, by a score of 2-0.
Florida Tech (8-2-1), Nova Southeastern (8-3-2) and Lynn (8-4-1) round out the top five, and Tampa (8-4-2) is currently sixth. Florida Tech still has games remaining with Nova and Lynn, but has already lost to Saint Leo and Rollins by identical 1-0 scores, and played Tampa to a scoreless tie. Nova’s two remaining games will be against Florida Tech and Tampa, giving the Sharks an equal chance to claim a higher position in the rankings.
At #7, the Moccasins find themselves in a dangerous position, having lost to #5 Lynn and #6 Tampa last week. They’ve already tied Nova and lost to Florida Tech as well, but the Mocs still have a chance to move up with games remaining against Saint Leo on Wednesday, and Rollins on October 26. They’ll have a chance to do even more damage in the SSC Tournament, but will have to win at least one of their next two games in order to qualify.
Further clouding the picture for Florida Southern, as well as Tampa, is the position of the Gulf South Conference schools. West Florida (10-2-2) is currently #8, followed by Valdosta State (10-3) and North Alabama (12-3). Overall this year, the SSC has performed very well against the GSC, but since both leagues are guaranteed at least one spot in the regional tournament, both the Moccasins and Spartans may need to climb to #5 in the regional rankings to earn an at-large bid.
West Florida is 1-2-1 against the SSC this year with losses to Nova Southeastern and Florida Southern, and a tie with Rollins. Valdosta State, which is in its inaugural season of soccer, is 0-2 against the SSC, including a 5-1 loss to Tampa. North Alabama is 2-2 against the SSC with losses to Lynn and Florida Southern.
Florida Southern has qualified for the NCAA South Region Tournament each of the last three years as an at-large selection. The Moccasins were also ranked high enough to qualify in 2007, but were bumped out in favor of an automatic qualifier from the Gulf South Conference.
