UCSB took a tumble in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll after a winless opening weekend of the regular season.
After a loss 1-0 overtime loss at Cal State Bakersfield and a 1-1 tie at New Mexico, the Gauchos fell from No. 8 to 21 in the first poll of the regular season.
Also falling out of the top 10 was UCLA, dropping from fifth to 17th. The Bruins went 1-1 to start the season, beating Notre Dame, 1-0, but losing against now-No. 18 Indiana, 5-1, at the Hoosiers’ tournament.
UC Irvine, with 1-0 wins over Loyola of Chicago and Wisconsin, rose from No. 25 to No. 14 in the poll.
Akron left no doubt it’s the top team in the country after impressive road wins over ACC powers North Carolina (3-0) and Wake Forest (2-0). The Zips three years ago lost to both teams.
No. 2-ranked and defending national champion Virginia got out of the gate without a loss, routing No. 15 St. John’s 5-0 and beating UAB 2-1.
Tulsa, which is risen in national prominence the last four years, is ranked third after a 2-0 start.
North Carolina (1-1) is fourth and Boston College (2-0) fifth.
Rounding out the top 10 are Harvard (2-0), Monmouth (2-0), Duke (1-0-1), Maryland (1-1-0) and Connecticut (2-0). One of Harvard’s wins was 2-1 decision over then-No. 13 Stanford. Duke’s win came against Sacramento State, 4-1.
The Blue Devils visit UCSB on Oct. 15.
Cal State Bakersfield, which also beat UC Davis, 3-1, received votes in the NSCAA and College Soccer News polls.
Akron tops the CSN poll while Virginia took over the No. 2 spot from North Carolina (now third). Maryland is fourth and Tulsa fifth.
UCSB fell from sixth to 16th. UC Irvine is 12th and UCLA ranked 13th.
