Cullowhee, NC – One week after coming into the NCAA FCS soccer rankings for the primary time since 2017, Western Carolina climbed in a single nationwide ballot whereas making its debut within the different this week. Following Saturday’s dominant 77-21 dwelling victory over Charleston Southern, the Catamounts superior to No. 17 within the Stats Carry out FCS Prime 25 media ballot, whereas breaking into the AFCA FCS Coaches Ballot at No. 21 as each rankings have been launched at this time.
Very like the media polling per week in the past, at this time’s No. 21 rating within the coaches’ ballot marks the primary look for Catamount soccer since 2017. Earlier than the rankings in 2017, it had been 11 seasons – since 2006 – that WCU was ranked by the nationwide voting coaches. The No. 17 rating within the media ballot represents the very best nationwide rating for a WCU squad within the high two polls because the Catamounts superior as excessive as sixteenth again in 1994.
Additionally on Monday, WCU sophomore quarterback Cole Gonzales was an honorable point out for the FedEx Floor FCS Nationwide Offensive Participant of the Week as chosen by Stats Carry out FCS. Gonzales tossed 5 first-half landing passes to 4 completely different receivers, piling up 299 yards via the air in final Saturday’s dwelling victory over Charleston Southern.
Lighting the scoreboard for 77 factors for the second time beneath head coach Kerwin Bell within the 77-21 win over CSU, Western Carolina matched the school-record for factors in a recreation final Saturday because it bought offensive early in opposition to Charleston Southern in entrance of the tenth largest crowd in E.J. Whitmire Stadium historical past (13,357).
Getting into the week, the Catamount offense presently leads the NCAA FCS in each complete offense at 517.8 yards per recreation and first downs with 109 complete. Individually, sophomore RB Desmond Reid ranks ninth within the NCAA FCS with each 469 complete yards and his common of 146.0 all-purpose yards per recreation. WCU’s protection ranks nineteenth within the NCAA FCS in opposition to the run, limiting opponents to a SoCon-best 108.8 yards per recreation.
Off to its greatest begin since 2018, No. 17/21 Western Carolina (3-1, 1-0 SoCon) opens a two-game street swing via Southern Convention play this weekend, touring to Charleston, S.C., to face The Citadel Bulldogs (0-4, 0-1 SoCon). Kickoff from Johnson Hagood Stadium is scheduled for two p.m. The sport will likely be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with reside audio from the Catamount Sports activities Community starting at 1 p.m.
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