LEXINGTON ? The Kentucky men?s soccer team, unbeaten in its last seven contests, jumped three spots to No. 5 in the latest region rankings, it was announced by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America on Tuesday.

The Wildcats are behind only defending national champion Indiana, Michigan, Notre Dame and Akron in the Great Lakes poll. All four of those teams are nationally ranked and three are on Kentucky?s schedule before the end of the regular season.

?In soccer, winning in your region is the most important thing,? said Kentucky coach Ian Collins. ?That?s how you get into the NCAA Tournament and are able to host tournament games.?

Michigan will provide the first test for the Wildcats. The two teams square off for the first time in history on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the UK Soccer Complex.

The game will test a pair of school-record unbeaten streaks for Kentucky. The Wildcats have not lost in a school-record 10 home games dating back to last year and are unbeaten in their last seven overall, which is tied for the school record.

On Oct. 6, the newest chapter of the Kentucky-Indiana rivalry will unfold at the UK Soccer Complex. The Hoosiers won two tightly contested meetings a year ago, including a double-overtime victory in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.