DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Move into Great Lakes Region Top 10
11/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO DePaul's late-season surge continues as the Blue Demons moved into the NSCAA/adidas Great Lakes Region top 10. Following wins last week over Pittsburgh and Connecticut, DePaul entered the regional poll this week ranked eighth. It is the first regional ranking this season for the Blue Demons.
The top three teams in the Great Lakes remained the same from last week with Akron at No. 1 followed by Michigan and Michigan State. Notre Dame is ranked fourth while Indiana is fifth and Illinois-Chicago is sixth. Northwestern sits one spot ahead of DePaul at No. 7 and Butler at ninth and Buffalo at No. 10 complete this week’s top 10.
DePaul enters the BIG EAST semifinals with a 7-2-2 record in their last 11 matches. During the 11-match span, the Blue Demons have outscored their opponents by an 11-5 margin with a win over #11/10 USF on Oct. 7 and a scoreless tie against #4/5 St. John’s on Oct. 25.
The Blue Demons knocked off No. 17/16 (NSCAA/Soccer America) Connecticut, 1-0, Saturday night in Storrs, Conn., to reach the tournament semifinals for the second consecutive season. DePaul opened conference tournament play with a decisive 3-1 win over Pittsburgh in the first round.
DePaul faces St. John’s in the first of two BIG EAST semifinal games Friday in Tampa, Fla. USF and Notre Dame play in the second match and both games can be seen live on CBS College Sports.
NSCAA/adidas Great Lakes Rankings
| Rank | School | Prev. | Record |
| 1. | Akron | 1 | 15-1-3 |
| 2. | Michigan | 2 | 12-4-2 |
| 3. | Michigan State | 3 | 12-4-2 |
| 4. | Notre Dame | 5 | 12-5-2 |
| 5. | Indiana | 7 | 10-5-3 |
| 6. | Illinois-Chicago | 6 | 12-2-4 |
| 7. | Northwestern | 4 | 12-3-2 |
| 8. | DePaul | NR | 9-6-4 |
| 9. | Butler | 8 | 13-2-4 |
| 10. | Buffalo | 8 | 11-3-4 |
