PULASKI, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee Southern women's soccer team closed the regular season ranked No. 22 in the final STADIONIC-NAIA Women's Soccer National Selection Committee (NSC) Top 25 Poll, released Wednesday.
The Firehawks finished the regular season with a 13-3-1 overall record and earned national recognition for the second consecutive NSC ranking release. UT Southern checked in at No. 22 nationally and was one of three Southern States Athletic Conference programs ranked in the final poll, joining No. 9 William Carey and No. 21 Life University.
The NSC Poll serves as a key evaluation tool for the NAIA National Championship selection process, utilizing criteria such as RPI, strength of schedule, conference standing, overall record, and results against quality opponents.
Throughout the regular season, the Firehawks established themselves as one of the nation's most explosive offenses, leading the NAIA in both goals scored and assists while securing a third-place finish in one of the country's toughest conferences.
UT Southern's résumé featured victories over nationally ranked opponents Lindsey Wilson and William Carey. Earlier this month, the Firehawks handed William Carey its first regular-season SSAC loss since 2017 with a 3-1 victory at Grissom Pitch.
The final NSC rankings featured several teams from the Firehawks' 2026 schedule, including No. 7 Embry-Riddle, No. 8 Lindsey Wilson, No. 9 William Carey, and No. 21 Life University.
Keiser remained atop the national rankings, followed by Grace and Indiana Wesleyan. Cumberlands and Spring Arbor rounded out the top five.
Final STADIONIC-NAIA Women's Soccer National Selection Committee Top 25
- Keiser (Fla.) (13-0-2)
- Grace (Ind.) (12-1-3)
- Indiana Wesleyan (13-1-3)
- Cumberlands (Ky.) (11-2-2)
- Spring Arbor (Mich.) (12-2-2)
- Marian (Ind.) (10-2-3)
- Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) (13-0-2)
- Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (10-3-1)
- William Carey (Miss.) (14-2-2)
- Columbia (Mo.) (12-1-3)
- Truett McConnell (Ga.) (13-1-1)
- Southeastern (Fla.) (11-3-1)
- Benedictine (Kan.) (13-2-2)
- Taylor (Ind.) (11-2-3)
- Clarke (Iowa) (12-1-3)
- Rocky Mountain (Mont.) (10-0-4)
- John Brown (Ark.) (11-1-3)
- MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) (11-3-2)
- Oklahoma Wesleyan (11-2-3)
- College of Idaho (12-3-0)
- Life (Ga.) (13-2-2)
- Tennessee Southern (13-3-1)
- Campbellsville (Ky.) (11-2-2)
- Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) (10-3-2)
- Morningside (Iowa) (11-2-2)
Up Next
Postseason play begins this week for the Firehawks as the No. 3 seed in the Southern States Athletic Conference Championship.
UT Southern will host No. 6 seed Thomas University in the SSAC Quarterfinals on Friday, Oct. 30, at 5 p.m. at Grissom Pitch.
The Firehawks and Nighthawks met earlier this season in Thomasville, Georgia, where UT Southern earned a 1-0 victory behind a goal from Osiris Rodriguez and a four-save shutout performance from Sam De Gier.
With a spot in the SSAC Semifinals on the line, the two teams will meet again in Pulaski as the Firehawks begin their postseason pursuit. UT Southern enters the conference tournament ranked No. 22 nationally and looking to strengthen its position for an NAIA National Championship berth.
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