INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The University of Central Missouri Jennies Soccer team is ranked fourth in the first set of NCAA Power Index (NPI) Central Region Rankings released on Monday, Oct. 12, by the NCAA.
Minnesota State checks in at No. 1 in the rankings, while Washburn is two, and Pittsburg State is three, rounding out the top three.
UCM is in the fourth spot, followed by UMary (N.D.), MoWest, Central Oklahoma, and Augustana (S.D.), wrapping up the top eight programs in the rankings.
In the overall NCAA Division II NPI rankings, Central Missouri is ranked 15th. Dallas Baptist University, out of the South Central Region, sits atop the overall rankings at No. 1.
The NCAA Power Index (NPI) is a new ranking system in college athletics that evaluates a team's performance beyond just its record. NPI considers game results and the strength of schedule to determine a team's NPI ranking. NPI calculations update throughout the season as teams play additional contests and opponent NPI values change. A team's final NPI is not determined until the final games and rankings of the season are complete.
The NPI replaces the NCAA's previous regional rankings system and will determine the at-large teams selected for the championship after the automatic qualifiers have been decided.
The NCAA Division II women's soccer tournament field consists of 56 teams from eight different regions, with each region receiving a pre-determined number of berths based on access ratio. The Central Region receives eight berths.
The MIAA, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), and Great American Conference (GAC) comprise the NCAA Central Region. Automatic bids will be awarded to the winners of each conference's postseason tournament.
The Jennies are 10-1-2 overall and are currently second in the MIAA standings at 5-0-2.
UCM went 1-0-1 last week, shutting out Central Oklahoma Oct. 9, 2-0, before tying Northeastern State Oct. 11, 1-1.
Central Missouri is scheduled to travel to Rogers State in Claremore, Okla., for an MIAA match at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, before hosting Emporia State at the South Recreation Complex in Warrensburg on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 1 p.m.
