Soccer appears in national rankings after 3-0 start

Soccer appears in national rankings after 3-0 start

NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer Poll        

NSCAA Junior College Division I Men's Soccer Poll

Rattling off three consecutive wins to start the 2015 season, the Marshalltown Community College men's soccer team earned a spot among the top teams in the country in the first edition of the national rankings. The Tigers enter the week ranked No. 18 in the NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer Poll, and received votes in the NSCAA Junior College Division I Men's Soccer Poll.

MCC is one of two teams from the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) to be ranked this week. No. 8 Iowa Western Community College dropped six spots from No. 2 after falling to No. 6 Otero Junior College on Sunday.

The Tigers have been backed by a strong offensive attack paired with a stingy defensive approach. MCC currently ranks second in the nation in total shots with 71 and have outscored their opponents 8-3. The team's 24 corner kicks are tied for first among all NJCAA teams. Of the Tigers' three goals allowed, two have come on a penalty kick.

Alberto Morales' (Granada, Spain/Santa Fe DH) four goals on the year are tied for ninth in the nation while his 20 shots rank first. Adrian Gomez (Ponteareas, Spain/Aceimar) has contributed two goals and two assists on the year and ranks fourth nationally with 14 shots. Freshman keeper Rafael Pereira (Lisbon, Portugal/Escola Secundaria Vergilio Ferreira) has stopped eight shots in net for the Tigers.

The Tigers were ranked No. 19 in the final regular season NSCAA poll in 2014 and also received votes in the final regular season NJCAA poll.

MCC returns to action this weekend as the Tigers travel to Northeast Community College, the newest member of the ICCAC, for a 2:00 PM matchup on Saturday.