After advancing further in the NCAA tournament than any other mens soccer team inschool history, the University of Kentucky was rewarded with a No. 23 ranking in the finalNational Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.

“This is such a great accomplishment for our team,” UK coach Ian Collins said. “Afterall the hard work, we were able to play our best soccer when we needed to, and now wehave this to show for it. This is a testament to the quality of our players and their willingnessto work hard, and it shows that the University of Kentucky is beginning to be noticed acrossthe country for its soccer.”

Not only is this the highest ranking of the season for the Cats, it also is the highestend-of-season ranking in the programs short 10-year history.

During the season, UK faced three of the top five teams, and five of the top 18:semifinalists No. 3 Southern Methodist and No. 4 Indiana, No. 5 North Carolina, No. 15 SaintLouis, and No. 18 Ohio State.

The Cats advanced past Saint Louis in the first round of the NCAA tournament with a thrilling4-2 shootout victory after a grueling, scoreless four-overtime match to advance to thesecond round for the first time in school history. SMU and IU each advanced to participate inthe Final Four.

Earlier this week, junior Illka Jantti was named a regional All-American by the NSCAA bybeing selected to the All-Great Lakes Region first team.

Final NSCAA Mens Soccer Division I Poll

1. Connecticut2. Creighton3. Southern Methodist*4. Indiana*5. North Carolina*6. Stanford7. Virginia8. Clemson9. Brown10. San Diego11. St. Johns12. Washington13. Duke14. San Jose State15. Saint Louis*16. Rhode Island17. South Carolina18. Ohio State*19. UAB20. James Madison21. Illinois-Chicago22. Furman23. Kentucky24. UCLA25. William & Mary* UK opponents