SEATTLE (Sept. 20) ­Seattle Pacific University finds itself one rung from the top of the NCAA Division II women's soccer ladder this week, rising to No. 2 in the NSCAA/adidas coaches poll.

The Falcons (8-0-0) now trail only defending national champion Metro State (Co.). SPU had been No. 3 last week.

Defending national champion Metro State (Co.) stays at No. 1, followed by Franklin Pierce (NH) and SPU. The Falcons visits Northwest Nazarene Friday for their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference game.

1.         Metro State (Co.)             7-0-0
2.         Seattle Pacific               8-0-0
3.         Tampa                         6-0-1
4.         Assumption College (Ma.)      6-0-0
5.         West Chester (Pa.)            7-0-0
5.         Wisconsin-Parkside            5-0-0
6.         West Florida                  6-0-1
7.         Regis (Co.)                   6-0-0
8.         Clayton State (Ga.)           4-1-0
tie        Nebraska Omaha                4-1-1
10.        Franklin Pierce (NH)          5-1-1
11.        Grand Valley State (Mi.)      7-1-0
12.        Cal State Dominguez Hills     5-1-1
13.        South Dakota                  7-1-1
14.        Bridgeport (Ct.)              5-1-0
15.        Tsculum (Tn.)                 4-2-0
17.        Texas A&M Commerce            5-1-0
tie        Southern Ill. Edwardsville    7-2-0
19.        Saint Rose (NY)               4-1-1
20.        UC San Diego                  4-1-0
21.        New Haven (Ct.)               5-1-0
22.        Carson-Newman (Tn.)           6-2-0
23.        Northern Kentucky             5-2-0
24.        Winona State (Mn.)            6-1-1
25.        Missouri Southern             5-2-1