College women’s soccer: Indians ranked No. 1 in D2
Published 11:10 pm Tuesday, October 24, 2023
- Nick Brown
Catawba Sports Information
SALISBURY. —- The Catawba College women’s soccer team is ranked No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches national poll that was announced on Tuesday afternoon, marking their highest ranking in program history and the first time any Catawba College team has been No. 1 in a national poll.
Catawba football and baseball earned No. 2 rankings at their peak.
“As a group, we just feel truly lucky to be in the position we are in where we get to train and play together every day,” head coach Nick Brown said. “To be recognized by the other coaches as the No. 1-ranked team in the country this late in the season is truly an honor and to be the first team at Catawba to be ranked number one is incredible.”
The team reached this milestone having won its opening 14 matches of the season for the first time in program history, holding the longest winning streak across all NCAA divisions and the only team in the country across all divisions to win each of its games this season. Catawba beat Anderson 1-0 on Saturday for the 14th win in the streak.
Much of the Catawba Indians’ success is attributed to their nation-leading scoring offense, which averages 3.93 goals per game. Grad student midfielder Sydney Jimmo ranks second in the country with 16 goals on the season, while Bree Ehmer, Helen Summerell and Hannah Dunn have scored eight, seven and five, respectively. Dunn ranks second in the South Atlantic Conference with eight assists.
Despite the history being made, Brown does not see this as the pinnacle.
“But as much as an honor as this is, it’s something we don’t really talk about as a group,” Brown said. “Whether we’re ranked 1 or 100, we show up the next day, work as hard as we can and continue to push forward.”
Catawba continues its season on the road on Wednesday, taking on Georgia College at 2 p.m. before returning to SAC play at Emory & Henry on Saturday. The Catawba Indians wrap up their regular-season schedule in a showdown with No. 13 Lenoir-Rhyne at Frock Field on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. with the SAC title on the line.
