NCAA Division II rankings

The No. 1-ranked team in NCAA Division II men's soccer plays in the CCAA, and it might not be who you first think. Stanislaus State has gone from being picked seventh in the CCAA preseason poll to being ranked as the top team in the country, according to the United Soccer Coaches.
 
The Warriors stand at 11-0-1 on the season and 5-0-1 in the CCAA. They opened the year with four wins over GNAC opponents and have added four more wins against top 25-ranked teams to catch the attention of the national rankings committee.
 
Defense has been a key for Stanislaus State, which has shut out its opponents in seven of its 12 matches. The Warriors have a plus-20 goal differential as they have posted 27 goals and allowed only seven. They lead the conference by 10 goals in that category and are ranked sixth in the nation.
 
Stanislaus also leads the CCAA in assists per game (2.5), points per game (7.0), save percentage (.863), and goals against average (0.583). Angel Ruiz-Hernandez has been credited with six shutouts while leading the conference in save percentage (.857) and goals against average (.587). He is third in total saves (42).
 
Offensively, Stanislaus State has been getting contributions up and down its lineup. Gerardo Flores leads the team and ranks second in the CCAA with seven goals. Emmanuel Duran is fifth with six goals, and Sebastian Carbajal is sixth with five goals. Four of Flores' goals have been game-winners, and he ranks fifth in the NCAA in that category.
 
Stanislaus State has four regular-season games remaining on its schedule. They will host Chico State on Friday, Oct. 24, before going on the road to Cal State Monterey Bay for a match on Sunday, Oct. 26. The Warriors will face another ranked opponent on the road when they play No. 16 Cal State Dominguez Hills on Halloween night, before closing out the regular season at home against UC Merced on Thursday, Nov. 6.
 
Click here to see the complete NCAA Division II rankings.