KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Coming off its second win over a ranked opponent in program history last week, the Hofstra University women jumped nine spots in the United Soccer Coaches poll to No. 14, its highest ranking in the weekly top-25 poll.

Hofstra recently concluded a spectacular non-conference season following its 2-0 shutout of Princeton University. The Pride finished its non-league slate with an 8-1 mark, with its lone setback of the season occurring on the road against No. 7 Penn State.

The Pride’s previous highest ranking in program history was Nov. 2, 2010 when it was No. 18 in the NSCAA poll. Hofstra checked in at No. 10 in the initial NCAA Division I RPI this week.

The team is one of the hottest offensive forces in the nation. The Pride has outscoring opponents, 26-4, while holding a 162-48 advantage in shot opportunities. Colonial Athletic Association preseason attacking player of the year Miri Taylor leads that potent offense, ranking second in the nation with 22 points on the season. Lucy Shepherd also ranks among the top-25 in points and is behind Taylor with 17. Ellen Halseth and Georgia Brown also are major offensive threats, as each player has added 10 and eight points this season, respectively.

On the defensive end, Hofstra has recorded six shutouts and has posted a clean sheet in three consecutive matches. Goalkeeper Skylar Kuzmich, who leads the conference in goals-against average, has recorded five individual shutouts, which is the second-highest total in the nation.

Hofstra ranks 11th in the country in total points (79), 16th in total goals (26) and is 11th in shutout percentage (.889).

The Pride hopes to extend its five-match winning streak and 22-match home unbeaten streak as the squad open its CAA schedule against Towson University Sunday at 1 p.m.

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.