SEATTLE (Sept. 7) ­ On the heels of its best start, the Seattle Pacific University has earned its highest national ranking in women's soccer, going to No. 5 in this week's NCAA Division II poll conducted by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

The undefeated Falcons (3-0-0), who play at Cal State L.A. later today, had been ranked as high as No. 10 last season, their third in existence. This just in . . . SPU defeated CSULA, 2-0.

Seattle Pacific was No. 22 in the NSCAA preseason poll, and has since beaten Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-0), Cal Poly Pomona (4-0) and Chico State (3-1), all at home.

SPU returns home Sept. 15 to open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play against Western Washington. It visits Seattle University, which is No. 10 in this week's poll, Sept. 18.

Perennial powerhouse Franklin Piece, last year's national runner-up, is the No. 1 team in Div. II, followed by West Texas A&M, Tusculum (Tn.) and Barry (Fl.).

1. Franklin Pierce (N.H.)         2-0-0 
2. West Texas A&M                 3-0-0 
3. Tusculum College (Tn.)         3-0-1 
4. Barry (Fl.)                    0-0-0 
5. Seattle Pacific                3-0-0 
6. Slippery Rock (Pa.)            3-0-0 
7. Ashland (Oh.)                  3-0-1 
8. Truman State (Mo.)             2-0-0 
9. Metro State (Co.)              3-1-0 
10. Seattle University            3-0-0 
11. West Florida                  1-0-0 
12. Northern Kentucky             3-1-0 
13. Saint Rose (N.Y.)             3-0-0 
14. UC San Diego                  2-0-0 
15. Carson-Newman (Tn.)           3-0-1 
16. Nebraska-Omaha                2-1-0 
17. Southampton (N.Y.)            2-0-0 
18. Merrimack (Ma.)               2-0-0 
19. Texas A&M-Commerce            3-1-0 
20. Catawba (N.C.)                3-0-0 
21. Adelphi (N.Y.)                2-1-0 
22. Tampa                         2-0-0 
23. Wisconsin-Parkside            3-0-0 
24. West Chester (Pa.)            1-0-0 
25. Southwest Baptist (Mo.)       3-0-0