Women's Soccer

WARRIORS EARN HIGHEST NATIONAL RANKING

WARRIORS EARN HIGHEST NATIONAL RANKING
Posted: Sep 20, 2021

Ottumwa, IA – On the heels of the team's sixth shutout of the season, the Indian Hills Women's Soccer team has moved up to No. 10 in the national rankings, announced Monday by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DI Women's Soccer Committee.

The ranking is the highest in program history for the Warriors who moved up from the team's No. 11 ranking last week. Indian Hills entered the season at No. 17 in the initial preseason rankings after finishing the Spring 2021 season at No. 11 following the team's first-ever national tournament appearance.

"It's a tremendous accomplishment for the program to get into the top-10," stated head coach Anthony Longo. "We have been ranked all throughout the last six seasons, but it's special to finally get into the top-10. The ladies have been incredible this year and have performed well in every game. This is a talented group and one that has a lot more wins in them."

Indian Hills (10-0-0, 1-0-0) is currently one of just seven undefeated programs in the nation. The Warriors have relied on a powerful offensive attack paired with a stingy defense to jump out to an undefeated start. The team's 75 goals, 62 assists, and 290 shots all lead the nation while its 0.50 goals against average mark ranks ninth nationally. The six shutouts are tied for the second-best total as well.

Sophomore Bailey Wiemann (Burlington, IA/Burlington) leads all scorers in the country with 38 points (14g, 10a) while freshman Ikumi Okumura (Edogawa, Japan/Murata) ranks third in goals (13) and fourth in points (28). Sophomore Risa Ogasawara's (Yokohama, Japan/Hinomoto) 28 points are the fifth-best total in the nation.

"There's never been a doubt in my mind that we are one of the 10 best teams in the country this year," Longo added. "But no matter where we stand, it's up to us to go out and play the way we know we are capable of. I have no doubt the team is ready and focused on continuing or winning ways."

The Warriors face its strongest test of the season on Saturday as the Iowa Western Community College Reivers, ranked No. 4 and one of the seven unbeaten teams in the nation comes to Ottumwa. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM at Schafer Stadium.