Oct. 17, 2007
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State occupied the top spot in the first women's soccer RPI rankings published by the NCAA this season. The 11-2-1 Nittany Lions are still perfect in the Big Ten at 5-0 and are pursuing their 10th consecutive conference title and fourth College Cup appearance.
A tough non-conference schedule and the quality strength of the Big Ten from top to bottom helped boost the eighth-ranked Nittany Lions to the top slot. Seven of PSU's nine non-conference opponents were ranked in the Top 35 of the list, while every Big Ten school is ranked in the top third with eight in the Top 70 Division I teams.
RPI rankings are derived from a formula that considers win-loss record, strength of schedule and opponent strength of schedule and are an excellent indicator of postseason potential.
The RPI rankings next come out on Oct. 22, and are then published again on Nov. 5.
Penn State travels to Iowa and Minnesota this weekend. The Nittany Lions face the Hawkeyes on Friday at 8 p.m. ET before meeting the Golden Gophers on Sunday, Oct. 21, at noon ET. The Minnesota game will air on a tape-delay basis at 8 p.m. on Monday night, Oct. 22.
The Nittany Lions return home vs. No. 5 Purdue on Friday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. at Jeffrey Field. Senior Day is schedule for the Sunday, Oct. 28 game vs. Indiana. Gametime for that match is at 1 p.m. live on the Big Ten Network.
--NITTANY LIONS--