Head coach Gary Book has the Adelphi men to its best start since the turn of the century. (Photo courtesy of Adelphi Athletic Dept.)

For the third consecutive week, the Adelphi University men hold court atop the United Soccer Coaches Division II Poll, which was released Tuesday afternoon.

Adelphi (7-0-0) is off to its fastest start since the turn of the century. The Panthers are one of nine remaining teams to be unbeaten or untied this season.

The Panthers also are the only nationally ranked program from the Northeast-10 Conference. Fellow East Region teams Mercy College (No. 8) and Wilmington University (No. 15) occupy spots in the Top 25.

The Panthers are coming off back-to-back one-goal victories against league opponents — a 4-3 triumph over University of New Haven Wednesday, Sept. 25, and a 2-1 come-from-behind win against Southern New Hampshire University Saturday, Sept. 28.

Through seven games, AU has scored the third-most goals in the country with 24. Sophomore midfielder/forward Paolo Marciano has seven goals, which is tied for fifth-best in Division II. He also ranks in the Top 10 in the nation in total points (T-4th – 17), goals per game (T-6th – 1.0), points per game (T-6th – 2.43) and shots per game (7th – 4.71).

Adelphi faces Southern Connecticut State University in an NE10 showdown at Jess Dow Field in New Haven, Conn. Tuesday at 7 p.m.

 

United Soccer Coaches Division II Poll – Oct. 1, 2019
1. Adelphi
2. Azusa Pacific
3. Maryville (Mo.)
4. Gannon
5. California State – Los Angeles
6. West Florida
7. Francis Marion
8. Mercy
9. Lake Erie
10. Texas A&M International
11. Florida Tech
12. Wingate
13. Midwestern State
14. West Chester
15. Wilmington (Del.)
16. Young Harris
17. Lynn
18. California State – San Bernardino
19. West Texas A&M
20. Charleston
21. Fort Hays State
22. Bellarmine
23. Eastern New Mexico
24. Simon Fraser
25. Palm Beach Atlantic

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.