The first NCAA men’s soccer Ratings Percentage Index was released Tuesday, and UCSB is ranked 14th.
The RPI is an important criteria for the NCAA committee when it selects the at-large teams for the 48-team NCAA Tournament field.
UCSB, which has key wins over Akron (No. 6), Duke (26) and West Virginia (35), Cal State Fullerton (46), Univ. San Diego (49), is one of two Big West teams in the top 15.
UC Irvine, which beat the Gauchos at Harder Stadium, sits at No. 4, the highest-ranking team from the West Coast.
The first ratings show the parity in college soccer,as seven conferences are represented in the top 10, led by the Big East and ACC with two apiece.
Connecticut, which suffered its first loss Tuesday night against West Virginia in a Big East match, holds down the No. 1 spot. Maryland (ACC), Creighton (Missouri Valley), UC Irvine and St John’s (Big East) are ranked second through fifth.
Rounding out the top 10 are Akron (Mid-American),, North Carolina (ACC), South Florida (Big East), New Mexico (MPSF) and Old Dominion (Colonial Athletic Assoc.)
The RPI is a mathematical formula designed to objectively compare results and strength of schedule.
NCAA MEN’S SOCCER RPI TOP 50
1 Connecticut Big East 13-0-1
2 Maryland ACC 13-1-1
3 Creighton Missouri Valley 11-2-0
4 UC Irvine Big West 12-3-0
5 St. John’s Big East 9-3-2
6 Akron Mid-American 10-1-2
7 North Carolina ACC 11-1-1 0-0-0
8 USF Big East 9-2-2
9 New Mexico MPSF 11-0-2
10 Old Dominion CAA 9-2-0
11 SMU Conference USA 8-4-1
12 Charlotte Atlantic 10 10-2-1
13 Coastal Carolina Big South 11-2-0
14 UC Santa Barbara Big West 9-4-1
15 Virginia ACC 8-5-0
16 Louisville Big East 8-4-1
17 James Madison CAA 9-2-1
18 UCLA Pac-12 10-3-1
19 Indiana Big Ten 8-3-2
20 William & Mary CAA 8-5-0
21 Boston College ACC 9-4-0
22 Wisconsin Big Ten 7-4-2
23 Iona MAAC 12-2-0
24 UAB Conference USA 8-3-2
25 Bradley Missouri Valley 9-3-2
26 Duke ACC 7-5-1
27 Georgia State CAA 10-3-1
28 Drake Missouri Valley 9-4-1
29 Northern Illinois Mid-American 8-4-0
30 South Carolina Conference USA 6-5-1
31 UCF Conference USA 8-2-2
32 Memphis Conference USA 8-3-1
33 Providence Big East 7-5-1
34 Notre Dame Big East 6-3-4
35 West Virginia Big East 7-5-1
36 UMBC America East 7-3-3
37 Yale Ivy 6-5-1
38 VCU CAA 8-6-0
39 CSU Bakersfield MPSF 8-1-4
40 Cornell Ivy 8-1-3
41 FGCU Atlantic Sun 6-4-2
42 Monmouth Northeast 9-4-0
43 Xavier Atlantic 10 8-2-2
44 UIC Horizon 7-3-3
45 Delaware CAA 8-3-1
46 Cal State Fullerton Big West 6-4-3
47 Rutgers Big East 7-5-1
48 Appalachian State Southern 8-2-2
49 San Diego WCC 7-5-1
50 Marquette Big East 7-5-2
