BEVERLY, Mass. - September 20, 2022 - For the second NEWVA coaches poll of the 2022 season, the Cardinals of Wesleyan (Conn.) have retained the top spot and have picked up votes since last week, now garnering all 14 first place votes. Currently ranked No. 17 in the most recent AVCA DIII Coaches Poll, Wesleyan remains undefeated on the season, having improved to 7-0 with a 3-0 week since the last poll.
The third NEWVA regional poll will be released on Tuesday, September 27.
NEWVA REGIONAL POLL NO. 1
1. No. 16 Wesleyan (7-0, 1-0 NESCAC) | 210 points | 14 first place vote
2. No. 24 Tufts (4-2, 1-1 NESCAC) | 190
3. No. 22 Babson (8-1, 2-0 NEWMAC) | 183 points
4. Endicott (5-3, 0-0 CCC) | 169 points
5. No. 19 MIT (8-1, 2-0 NEWMAC) | 132 points
6. Springfield (7-1, 2-0 NEWMAC) | 119 points
7. Emerson (7-1, 1-1 NEWMAC) | 106 points
8. Coast Guard (9-2, 0-1 NEWMAC) | 94 points
9. Hamilton (5-1, 1-1 NESCAC) | 67 points
10. Smith (9-2, 2-0 NEWMAC) | 61 points
t-11. Amherst (4-2, 2-0 NESCAC) | 39 points
t-11. Colby (6-0, 2-0 NESCAC) | 39 points
t-11. Middlebury (4-3, 0-2 NESCAC) | 39 points
14. Brandeis (5-3, 0-3 UAA) | 38 points
15. Williams (4-2, 1-1 NESCAC) | 30 points
Also receiving votes: Bowdoin, Rivier, Eastern Nazarene, Eastern Connecticut State, Bates, Plymouth State, Wheaton
(Order between tied teams based off first place votes. Teams receiving votes must appear on two ballots or more, and must be above .500 overall)
THE TOP FIVE
1. No. 17 Wesleyan (7-0, 1-0 NESCAC) | 210 points | 14 first place vote
The Cardinals extended their win streak to seven to open the 2022 season, with a key win over AVCA No. 19, and NESCAC rival Tufts via a 3-0 sweep on Friday night. Wesleyan finished the week with a pair of 3-1 wins over Johnson & Wales (R.I.) and Keene State on Saturday.
2. No. 19 Tufts (4-2, 1-1 NESCAC) | 190 points
The Jumbos competed twice in the last week, dropping the first match to AVCA No. 17 Wesleyan 3-0, before rebounding to take down Trinity (Conn.) on Saturday 3-1 to improve to 1-1 in NESCAC play.
3. No. 22 Babson (11-1, 3-1 NEWMAC) | 183 points
The Beavers went 2-0 on the week, with both wins being against NEWMAC foes as Babson took down Wellesley and Coast Guard by identical 3-1 finals.
4. Endicott (5-3, 0-0 CCC) | 169 points
The Gulls took to the west coast to take on a tough slate of non-conference opponents and returned 0-3 on the week with losses to AVCA No. 1 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 3-0, Whittier 3-1 and Cal Lutheran 3-0.
5. No. 18 (AVCA) MIT (7-1, 1-0 NEWMAC) | 132 points
The Engineers posted a 2-0 week to open NEWMAC play, taking down Emerson in a 3-2 thriller, before sweeping Mount Holyoke to improve to 2-0 in NEWMAC play.
UNDEFEATED TEAMS*
No 1. Wesleyan (7-0)
t-No. 11 Colby (6-0)
* Rankings are the most recent NEWVA Regional rankings
CONFERENCE LEADERS IN THE POLL
Commonwealth Coast Conference
No. 4 Endicott
Great Northeast Athletic Conference
N/A
Little East Conference
N/A
Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference
N/A
North Atlantic Conference
N/A
New England Collegiate Conference
N/A
New England Small College Athletic Conference
No. 1 Wesleyan, No. 2 Tufts, No. 9 Hamilton, t-No. 11 Amherst, t-No. 11 Colby, t-No. 11 Middlebury, No. 15 Williams
New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
No. 3 Babson, No. 5 MIT, No. 6 Springfield, No. 7 Emerson, No. 8 Coast Guard, No. 10 Smith
UAA
No. 14 Brandeis
Photo Courtesy of Wesleyan Athletic Communications