CIS TOP TEN TUESDAY (#3)
Alberta moves up to No. 1 in men’s soccer
OTTAWA (CIS) – The University of Alberta Golden Bears top the CIS men’s soccer rankings for the first time in over five years.
The Bears, ranked third in the country last week, easily improved to 3-0 in league play on Saturday with a 4-0 shutout against CIS newcomer UNBC in their lone outing of the past weekend. Alberta, which has outscored its opponents 15-0 so far in the young season, had last reached No. 1 status in the first poll of the 2007 campaign (Sept. 6).
It was a tough week for the Victoria Vikes (2-2-0) and Cape Breton Capers (2-1-0), who occupied positions No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in last Tuesday’s coaches’ poll. The reigning CIS champion Vikes were booted out of the Top 10 following back-to-back losses to Trinity Western, 3-0, and UBC, 1-0. The Capers drop all the way to No. 9 after a 3-2 loss to Dalhousie on home turf.
Other changes in the new men’s soccer poll includes York (6-0-0) moving up five spot to No. 2, and UBC (4-0-0) climbing up from No. 6 to complete the leading trio.
In women’s soccer, the Montreal Carabins (4-0-0) hold on to the pole position following another dominating weekend that saw them blank UQAM 6-0 and Sherbrooke 2-0. The 2011 CIS finalists, who have outscored their rivals 18-1 in the first two weeks of the RSEQ schedule, take the field three times over the next six days, starting with a stiff test against No. 5 McGill (3-0-0) on Wednesday night.
In women’s rugby, the top-ranked St. Francis Xavier X-Women (1-0) enjoyed a break in their AUS schedule last weekend. Last year’s CIS silver medallists are back in action this week as they host CIS newcomer St. Thomas (0-2) on Wednesday and UPEI (1-1) on Friday.
WOMEN’S RUGBY
(regular season record) / votes (first-place votes) / (previous rankings)
1. StFX (1-0) / 173 points (11) / (1)
2. Guelph (3-0) / 161 (6) / (2)
3. Lethbridge (0-0) / 133 / (3)
4. Laval (3-0) / 109 / (4)
5. Queen’s (3-0) / 106 / (5)
6. Concordia (3-0) / 78 / (6)
7. McGill (2-1) / 50 / (7)
8. Alberta (0-0) / 39 / (8)
9. McMaster (2-1) / 31 / (9)
10. Calgary (0-0) / 23 / (10)
Other teams receiving votes: Western (12), Acadia (12), Waterloo (8), Ottawa (8), UBC (1).
WOMEN’S SOCCER
(regular season record) / votes / (previous rankings)
1. Montreal (4-0-0) / 50 points / (1)
2. Ottawa (6-0-1) / 42 / (2)
3. Trinity Western (3-0-0) / 39 / (3)
4. Wilfrid Laurier (5-0-1) / 34 / (6)
5. McGill (3-0-0) / 31 / (5)
6. Queen’s (3-1-2) / 19 / (4)
7. Alberta (2-0-2) / 18 / (7)
8. Regina (3-0-0) / 13 / (NR)
9. Cape Breton (3-0-0) / 11 / (NR)
10. UPEI (3-0-1) / 8 / (NR)
Other teams receiving votes: UBC (4), Victoria (3), York (2), Laurentian (1).
MEN’S SOCCER
(regular season record) / votes / (previous rankings)
1. Alberta (3-0-0) / 55 points / (3)
2. York (6-0-0) / 53 / (7)
3. UBC (4-0-0) / 51 / (6)
4. Saint Mary’s (3-0-0) / 44 / (5)
5. McMaster (5-1-0) / 25 / (4)
6. Sherbrooke (2-0-1) / 24 / (10)
7. Queen’s (4-0-1) / 23 / (NR)
8. Trinity Western (3-0-1) / 17 / (NR)
9. Cape Breton (2-1-0) / 12 / (2)
10. Acadia (3-0-1) / 11 / (NR)
FRC – CIS Football Top 10 (#4)
McMaster still No. 1, Montreal among teams on the rise
OTTAWA (CIS) – The reigning Vanier Cup champion McMaster Marauders top the Football Reporters of Canada – CIS rankings for the fourth time in as many polls this season.
After receiving all 30 first-place nods from the FRC panel each of the past two weeks, the Marauders (3-0) lose one No. 1 vote to the second-ranked Calgary Dinos (3-0) in the new Top 10.
Behind the two leaders, all other teams are on the move in this week’s media poll.
The Montreal Carabins (3-0) and Laval Rouge et Or (3-0) switch places and are now ranked No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. The No. 5 Queen’s Gaels (3-0) and No. 6 Western Mustangs (2-1) also exchange positions.
The No. 7 Saskatchewan Huskies (2-1) are up two spots. The No. 8 Manitoba Bisons (2-1) are down one. The Regina Rams (2-1) are up one to No. 9, while the Sherbrooke Vert & Or (2-1) crack the Top 10 for the first time this fall, in tenth place.
Top-ranked McMaster crushed Ottawa (0-3) 45-16 in the nation’s capital on Saturday and has now scored at least 40 points in eight straight games going back to last season. The Marauders, who have outscored their opponents 163 to 46 in the first three weeks of league play, should face their biggest test so far in 2012 when they host No. 5 Queen’s on Saturday.
Calgary has been equally impressive early in the season and is the only undefeated in Canada West following a 33-12 road victory over nationally-ranked Manitoba.
Like McMaster and Calgary, third-ranked Montreal has rolled over its opponents in the first three weeks of conference action. The Carabins beat Bishop’s 45-15 last weekend to register their third straight success by 24 points or more.
Laval drops one spot in the Top 10 for the second week in a row despite a 31-7 defeat of reigning AUS champion Acadia (1-1) which extended its CIS-record home winning streak to 53 consecutive games overall going back to 2004. The Rouge et Or had been the top-ranked Quebec team for 26 straight national polls going back to October of 2009.
In the feature match-up of Week 3, Queen’s edged Western 18-11 in front of 10,077 delighted fans at Richardson Stadium in Kingston. Senior running back Ryan Granberg, who finished the contest with 168 rushing yards, scored the winning touchdown on a 19-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Other results by Top-10 teams last weekend were Saskatchewan 39, UBC 34 (at UBC); Regina 31, Alberta 17 (at Alberta); Sherbrooke 23, Saint Mary’s 22 (at Saint Mary’s).
A trio of Top-10 battles highlights the Week 4 schedule. In addition to No. 5 Queen’s at No. 1 McMaster on Saturday, No. 9 Regina visits No. 7 Saskatchewan on Friday night, and No. 10 Sherbrooke is at No. 3 Montreal on Saturday afternoon.
FRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#4)
Pts (1st place) Last week
1. McMaster (3-0) 299 (29) 1
2. Calgary (3-0) 267 (1) 2
3. Montreal (3-0) 231 4
4. Laval (3-0) 220 3
5. Queen’s (3-0) 184 6
6. Western (2-1) 141 5
7. Saskatchewan (2-1) 89 * 9
8. Manitoba (2-1) 89 7
9. Regina (2-1) 70 10
10. Sherbrooke (2-1) 35 NR
* Saskatchewan edges Manitoba for seventh place based on number of higher-placed votes.
Other teams receiving votes: Acadia (19), Windsor (6), Guelph (5), Concordia (1), UBC (1).
No. 1 McMaster (3-0): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 45-16 win at Ottawa (0-3)... This week: Host No. 5 Queen’s (3-0) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET...
No. 2 Calgary (3-0): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 33-12 win at then-No. 7 Manitoba (2-1)... This week: Visit UBC (0-3) Saturday at 2 p.m. PT...
No. 3 Montreal (3-0): Top 10 ranking: Up one position... Last week: 45-15 home win over Bishop’s (0-3)... This week: Host No. 10 Sherbrooke (2-1) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET...
No. 4 Laval (3-0): Top 10 ranking: Down one position... Last week: 31-7 home win over then-No. 8 Acadia (1-1)... This week: Visit McGill (1-2) Friday at 7 p.m. ET...
No. 5 Queen’s (3-0): Top 10 ranking: Up one position... Last week: 18-11 home win over then-No. 5 Western (2-1)... This week: Visit No. 1 McMaster (3-0) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET...
No. 6 Western (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Down one position... Last week: 18-11 loss at then-No. 6 Queen’s (3-0)... This week: Host Windsor (2-1) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET...
No. 7 Saskatchewan (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Up two positions... Last week: 39-34 win at UBC (0-3)... This week: Host No. 9 Regina (2-1) Friday at 7 p.m. CT...
No. 8 Manitoba (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Down one position... Last week: 33-12 home loss to No. 2 Calgary (3-0)... This week: Host Alberta (0-3) Saturday at 1 p.m. CT...
No. 9 Regina (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Up one position... Last week: 31-17 win at Alberta (0-3)... This week: Visit No. 7 Saskatchewan (2-1) Friday at 7 p.m. CT...
No. 10 Sherbrooke (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Unranked last week... Last week: 23-22 win at Saint Mary’s (0-2)... This week: Visit No. 3 Montreal (3-0) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET...
REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE: WEEK 3 (all times local)
September 21
19:00 No. 4 Laval (3-0) at McGill (1-2), SSNCanada.ca (web)
19:00 No. 9 Regina (2-1) at No. 7 Saskatchewan (2-1), Shaw (TV)
September 22
13:00 Toronto (1-2) at Guelph (2-1), theScore (TV & web) & SSNCanada.ca (web)
13:00 Concordia (2-1) at Bishop’s (0-3), SSNCanada.ca (web)
13:00 Laurier (1-2) at Ottawa (0-3), SSNCanada.ca (web)
13:00 Waterloo (0-3) at York (1-2), SSNCanada.ca (web)
13:00 No. 10 Sherbrooke (2-1) at No. 3 Montreal (3-0), Radio-Canada (TV & web)
13:00 Windsor (2-1) at No. 6 Western (2-1), Rogers (TV) & SSNCanada.ca (web)
13:00 No. 5 Queen’s (3-0) at No. 1 McMaster (3-0), Cable 14 (TV) & marauders.ca/live (web)
13:00 Alberta (0-3) at No. 8 Manitoba (2-1), Shaw Manitoba (TV) & CanadaWest.tv (web)
14:00 Acadia (1-1) at Saint Mary’s (0-2), Eastlink (TV & web) & Bell Aliant (web)
14:00 StFX (1-1) at Mount Allison (0-2), sportscanada.tv (web)
14:00 No. 2 Calgary (3-0) at UBC (0-3), CanadaWest.tv (web)
About Football Reporters of Canada
Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering CIS Football. Since 1958, Football Reporters of Canada has been an organization of media members who have covered the Canadian Football League, serving to select the league’s outstanding players, coach-of-the-year and all-star teams through voting conducted by its members. In 2009, the FRC amalgamated with the University Football Reporters of Canada (UFRC) to give the organization greater scope in its affiliation with amateur and college football. FRC also works with the CFL and CIS to establish guidelines and working conditions for the men and women who report on the game. Selected members of FRC also help to choose builders, players and media members for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
About Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Every year, 11,000 student-athletes and 700 coaches from 54 universities and four regional associations vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca or follow us on:
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