KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Barry Buccaneers have raced back up the polls and currently sit at number two in the NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division II Women's National Poll.
The Bucs jumped five spots after a pair of wins last week over Palm Beach Atlantic at home and then-#23 Saint Leo on the road in overtime.
The Bucs have won six straight now to improve to 9-1-1 on the season and 5-0-0 in the Sunshine State Conference.
The defense, which led the SSC in 2013 at 0.71 goals per game, is currently third in the league at 0.80 goals per game and has allowed the fewest total goals. The offense has taken a tick up. After averaging just 1.79 goals per game last season, the Bucs have scored 25 goals in 11 games for a 2.27 goals per game average. Balance has been the key as Lauran Manna, Lavinia Nkomo and Rayah Seckler have all scored four goals to tie for the team lead.
The number two ranking is the highest for the Bucs since they were ranked third on Sept. 3, 2001. The last time they were ranked higher was Nov. 6, 2000 when they were ranked number one for the eighth consecutive week.
The Bucs have two important games this week. On Wednesday, Oct. 22 they travel to Florida Tech to face the Panthers. In the last five games between the teams, just two goals have been scored with each team taking a 1-0 win followed by three straight 0-0 draws. On Saturday, Oct. 25, the Bucs host the Florida Southern Moccasins for both Senior Day and the NSCAA.tv National Game of the Week, presented by the Tourbeau Sports Group. The Mocs hung the only blemish on the Bucs’ record this season, a 2-1 decision in Lakeland on Sept. 20.