HIALEAH, Fla. (Oct. 4, 2023) – Florida National University’s men’s soccer team used a brilliant two-game outing to jump to No. 13 in the NAIA’s Men’s Soccer Coaches’ Top-25 Rankings. The Conquistadors (7-1-2) were previously sitting at No. 14 and have moved up at least one spot for five straight weeks.
This is the highest ranking for the Conquistadors in school history, and it came off excellent games versus the NCAA DII Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish and The New College of Florida Banyans. FNU executed a 2-2 draw versus the Sailfish off goals from Santiago Leaniz and Nicolas Martinez.
Martinez scored again in FNU’s 3-0 win over the Banyans at home and earned the Continental Athletic Conference’s (CAC) Offensive Player of the Week award for his efforts. Notably, it was announced on Oct. 2 that New College of Florida would become a member of the NAIA effective July 1, 2024. The Banyans will be joining The Sun Conference.
CAC rivals Georgia Gwinnett College took another slight hit in the polls, dropping from the seventeenth spot to No. 23. FNU’s sole loss this year came at the hands of the St. Thomas University Bobcats 3-2 on August 26. STU remains in the third spot while Mid-America Christian University came in at No. 1 with 13 first-place votes.
FNU has its first CAC game of the year versus Florida College on Oct. 5 at Milander Park. Kickoff is set for 10 a.m.
For more on the NAIA Coaches’ Poll, click here.
