Toms ranked nationally or regionally in 7 of 8 sports

October 15, 2009

St. Thomas has seven of its eight fall sports teams ranked nationally or regionally. The Tommies have a chance to finish in the top three in the conference standings in all eight sports (football, volleyball, golf, cross country).

Men’s Cross Country

St. Thomas moved up two spots to No. 33 in this week’s Division III national top 35 poll by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association. Coach Pete Wareham’s Tommies took first of three teams last weekend in the St. Catherine Invite, and will run this weekend in a large field in Oberlin, Ohio.

Other Central Region teams ranked are Nebraska Wesleyan (16th), St. John’s (28th) and Grinnell (29th).

Women’s Cross Country

St. Thomas’ varsity was off last weekend and is ranked 21st in this week’s Division III national top 35 poll by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association. Coach Joe Sweeney’s Tommies will compete Friday at the Lake Wissota Invite hosted by UW-Eau Claire in Chippewa Falls.

Other Central Region teams ranked are Bethel (11th), Wartburg (14th), Carleton (18th) and Nebraska Wesleyan (30th) and Luther (33rd).

Men’s Soccer

The St. Thomas men’s soccer team is ranked ninth in this week’s North Region poll. Coach Aaron Macke’s team lost a tough 1-0 decision in two overtimes on Wednesday to regionally-ranked Carleton and dropped to 7-5-1 overall. Last Friday, the Toms beat nationally-ranked St. Olaf, 4-0.

The Tommies, in the midst of a crowded field of MIAC playoff contenders, play Gustavus at home this Saturday

Women’s Soccer

The St. Thomas women’s soccer team is ranked third in this week’s North Region poll. Coach Sheila McGill’s team played to a 0-0 tie in two overtimes on Wednesday at Carleton and is now 10-2-1 overall, two points out of first place in the conference.

The Tommies, who have a nine-game unbeaten streak, play UW-Oshkosh at home this Sunday.

Football

The 5-0 Tommies are ranked 15th nationally in both the AFCA and D3Football.com polls. They face No. 6-ranked St. John’s Saturday in Collegeville.

Volleyball 

The Tommies (17-5) had their 36-match MIAC unbeaten streak end Wednesday with a four-set loss to St. Ben’s. That avenged a five-set Tommie win over the Blazers last month. UST is now tied with St. Olaf atop the MIAC standings, just ahead of other one-loss teams St. Ben’s and Concordia. In the AVCA national top 25, UST is ninth, Concordia is 17th, St. Ben’s is 20th and St. Olaf is 25th.

On Friday, UST faces No. 6-ranked Carthage in the UW-Oshkosh tournament. St. Thomas could also face No. 1-ranked Oshkosh on Saturday.

Women’s Golf

Playing without injured two-time All-American Laura Heck, St. Thomas took third in the recent MIAC Championships. UST, ranked 22nd nationally, has concluded its fall season.

Men’s Golf

St. Thomas tied for second in the recent MIAC Championships and has concluded its fall season. UST is unranked nationally, although in its last three tournaments it finished behind to just two Division III teams – No. 7 St. John’s and No. 11 Illinois Wesleyan.