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By Pat Salvas
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Tuesday marked another first for the UCF men's soccer program with the release of the initial Ratings Percentage Index of 2010. The Knights makes their first appearance in the RPI top 30 as they are ranked at No. 28 in the country in a field of 204 total teams.
The RPI is the main ranking system used when selecting the field of 48 teams in the NCAA Tournament.
This season has been a year of firsts for the Knights, beginning by knocking off No. 5 SMU, 2-1, for their first ever win over a top 10 team. That earned the team another milestone as it has made appearances in several nation rankings in the last two weeks.
The win over SMU is even more impressive now that the initial RPI has the Mustangs at No. 2 with an 11-1 record. The 11 wins are the most by any team in the nation with its lone blemish coming at the UCF Soccer Complex last Saturday night.
UCF currently sits atop Conference USA standings with 12 points and a 4-0 mark. Following tomorrow night's game, the Knights will take on South Carolina (No. 19) on Saturday.
The 8-2 overall mark has also helped the Knights reach the No. 23 spot in this week's College Soccer News rankings. UCF is No. 24 in the SoccerTimes.com weekly poll, while the National Soccer Coaches Association of America has the Knights fifth in the South Region, ahead of perennial power Wake Forrest (No. 30). UCF has also risen in the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Rankings to No. 16.
"I am pleased with the work we have put in to date," head coach Bryan Cunningham said. "We have a lot of room to improve and get better, but I think that we all like where we are now."
The Knights put their perfect 4-0 conference record on the line when they travel to Lexington, Ky., to take on Kentucky Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.