NASHVILLE – The Trevecca Nazarene University men's soccer team is No. 21 nationally and No. 8 in Super Region 2 in the first NCAA Power Index rankings for Division II men's soccer, released Monday, Oct. 12.
The ranking puts the Trojans in the NCAA Tournament conversation as the season enters its final stretch. In simple terms, the NCAA Power Index, or NPI, measures how well a team has performed and the strength of the opponents it has faced. The NCAA uses those rankings to determine which teams receive at-large tournament berths after automatic qualifiers are established.
Head coach Danny Leavy's Trojans are 9-1-2 overall and 4-1-2 in the Gulf South Conference, carrying a four-match winning streak into Wednesday's (7PM) home match against Spring Hill.
WHY NO. 8 IN SUPER REGION 2 MATTERS
The NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship includes 40 teams, with 10 selected from each of four super regions. Trevecca competes in Super Region 2, which brings together the Gulf South, Sunshine State, South Atlantic, Peach Belt and Conference Carolinas, along with eligible independent programs.
That makes the No. 8 super region ranking especially meaningful. Trevecca is among the region's top 10 teams in the opening NPI release, placing the Trojans in contention for one of its NCAA Tournament spots.
Automatic qualifiers receive berths first, and NPI determines the remaining at-large selections within the regional allocation. A conference automatic qualifier ranked below the top 10 can still take a place in the field, so seventh is a promising starting position with work remaining before selections.
A PROGRAM HIGH IN THE SOUTH REGION
Trevecca also reached No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches South Region poll dated Oct. 13, improving one spot from the Oct. 6 poll. It is the highest South Region ranking in program history.
Before this season, the Trojans' highest South Region ranking was No. 10 on Sept. 24, 2024. Trevecca is in its third season in the South Region after joining the GSC in 2024.
During its years in the Midwest Region, Trevecca's highest documented ranking was No. 7 on Sept. 25, 2018. That team was 5-2-1 after road wins over Kentucky Wesleyan and then-No. 2 Ohio Valley.
The United Soccer Coaches poll recognizes the Trojans' regional standing. The NCAA uses the separate NPI rankings to select the tournament's at-large teams.
THE PLAYERS AND PERFORMANCES BEHIND THE RUN
Chris Douglas leads Trevecca with 10 goals and four assists for 24 points in 10 appearances. The junior has earned three Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Week awards this season. His scoring has included a hat trick in the 4-3 comeback win at Freed-Hardeman, capped by the winner with 1:07 remaining.
Daniel Shiel has seven goals and three assists for 17 points, including all three goals in the 3-1 victory over Delta State and the lone goal in the 1-0 win at Union. Zion Jones has four goals, including the winner at Christian Brothers, while Judah Jones leads the team with seven assists. Haden Brown has five assists and scored the decisive goal in the 1-0 road win over then-No. 19 Carson-Newman.
Hunter Walker has played every minute in goal, recording five shutouts, 55 saves and a 1.08 goals-against average. Trevecca has outscored opponents 28-13, including a 17-3 advantage after halftime, and remains unbeaten away from home at 4-0-2. Walker has already tied his program season record with five shutouts and is a half shutout away from setting the program career record for shutouts.
The Carson-Newman victory gave the Trojans an early win over a nationally ranked opponent. A 6-2 victory over Mississippi Christian followed in conference play, and Trevecca's current streak includes wins over Christian Brothers, Freed-Hardeman, Delta State and Union. The Trojans have allowed one goal in their last two matches.
HOW THE NCAA POWER INDEX WORKS
Division II introduced NPI for team-sport championship selections beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The formula applies settings established by each sport's committee to evaluate results consistently throughout the season.
For men's soccer, the winning percentage and strength of schedule components use a 25/75 split. Strength of schedule is based on opponents' NPI ratings, giving substantial weight to the competition a team faces. The formula also accounts for match location and provides additional credit for results against quality opponents.
Men's soccer uses a quality-win base of 53.5 and a 0.600 multiplier. Those settings reward results against stronger opponents and account for the value of a draw against a quality team. Only results against Division II opponents enter the calculation.
A team's NPI can change as it plays additional matches and as its opponents' ratings change. Rankings will be released weekly on Mondays before transitioning to daily weekday updates beginning the week of Oct. 26. NCAA Tournament selections are scheduled for Nov. 9.
A CONFERENCE RACE WITH THREE MATCHES TO PLAY
Trevecca enters the week third in the GSC with 14 points. Auburn Montgomery leads with 20 points and a 6-0-2 conference record, followed by UAH with 15 points at 4-1-3. The Trojans have played one fewer conference match than both teams.
Picked No. 8 in the GSC preseason coaches' poll, Trevecca now has opportunities to climb the conference standings while strengthening its NCAA Tournament position.
The Trojans host Spring Hill on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. at the Trevecca Soccer Complex. A victory would extend the winning streak to five and give Trevecca its 10th win of the season.
Trevecca then travels to first-place Auburn Montgomery on Saturday, Oct. 17, for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. That matchup gives the Trojans a direct opportunity to gain ground on the conference leader. The remaining GSC schedule concludes at home against West Alabama on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. All times are Central.
Live stats and live stream links are available on the Trevecca men's soccer schedule page.
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