CIS Blackberry Top Ten

OTTAWA (CIS) – The reigning national champion University of Alberta Pandas top the inaugural CIS women’s hockey coaches’ poll of the 2010-11 season.

In other sports, Alberta (women’s soccer), Laval (men’s soccer), Lethbridge (women’s rugby), McMaster (women’s cross country) and Guelph (men’s cross country) all hold on to their No. 1 positions this week. 

The Pandas captured their CIS-record seventh women’s hockey title last winter thanks to a 2-0 gold-medal win over the McGill Martlets. Prior to the national final, the Martlets, who entered the game as two-time defending champions, had won a record 86 straight contests overall dating back to a shootout loss to Alberta in non-conference action on Dec. 30, 2007. 

McGill, which led all 17 polls a year ago and had topped the last 46 CIS rankings going back to 2007-08, opens the new campaign at No. 2, followed by No. 3 Wilfrid Laurier, No. 4 StFX, No. 5 Manitoba, No. 6 Montreal, No. 7 Saint Mary’s, No. 8 Saskatchewan, No. 9 Guelph and No. 10 York. 

Alberta is 5-1 overall in pre-season action this fall and is 2-1 against CIS opponents, including 4-3 wins over Saskatchewan and Regina and a 4-3 loss to Saskatchewan. The Pandas kick off the Canada West schedule with a bang this weekend as they travel to Winnipeg for a Friday-Saturday doubleheader with the No. 5 Bisons. 

McGill is 2-4-1 in pre-season play but 2-0 versus CIS rivals, including a 3-2 shootout win at Laurier on Sept. 18. The Golden Hawks open their OUA regular season at UOIT and Queen’s this weekend, while the Martlets have to wait until Oct. 20 for their QSSF opener against Montreal. 

In women’s soccer, No. 1 Alberta is now 7-0-1 in conference play following a 0-0 draw with Regina (2-4-2) and a 2-0 shutout of Manitoba (0-5-3) last weekend. 

In men’s soccer, reigning CIS champion Laval (7-0-0) continued to roll over its QSSF opponents with a 3-1 defeat of UQTR (2-3-2). 

In women’s rugby, three-time defending national champion Lethbridge (2-0) didn’t take the field last weekend. The Pronghorns are back in action on Oct. 15 against Calgary. 

In cross-country running, the McMaster women and Guelph men both remain at No. 1 for the second time in as many rankings.