CIS Blackberry Top Ten
OTTAWA (CIS) – There are no changes this week atop the CIS national rankings in soccer, rugby and cross-country running.
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.
The reign atop the CIS women’s hockey rankings lasted only one week for the defending national champion University of Alberta Pandas.
The Pandas (1-1-0), who topped the first coaches’ poll of the campaign on Oct. 5 seven months after capturing the seventh CIS title in team history, drop to No. 3 this week after a season-opening split with the Manitoba Bisons (1-1-0), who move up one spot to No. 4 in the new Top 10.
The weekend draw between the Canada West powerhouses benefited the McGill Martlets (1-0-0) and Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (2-0-0), both of whom move up one position in the national poll to No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.
In women’s soccer, No. 1 Alberta (7-0-1) enjoyed a break during Thanksgiving weekend. The Pandas are back in action this week with home dates against Fraser Valley (4-3-1) on Saturday and Victoria (2-3-3) on Sunday.
The past week was highlighted by a 1-0 win by No. 5 Ottawa (9-1-2) over then-No. 3 Queen’s (10-2-0) in an OUA East battle last Wednesday.
In men’s soccer, reigning CIS champion Laval (7-0-0) also enjoyed a well-deserved Thanksgiving pause. The top-ranked Rouge et Or travel to Montreal this weekend to face UQAM (3-3-1) on Friday and Concordia (1-5-0) on Sunday.
In women’s rugby, three-time defending national champion Lethbridge (2-0) finally resume – and conclude - their Canada West season this weekend after a three-week break. The Pronghorns visit Calgary (0-3) on Friday and No. 5 Alberta (3-0) on Sunday.
In QSSF action, No. 4 Concordia (5-0) edged No. 6 Laval (3-2) 15-10 on Sunday.
In cross-country running, the McMaster women and Guelph men both remain at No. 1 for the third time in as many rankings.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
1. McMaster
2. Guelph
3. Victoria
4. Calgary
5. Western Ontario
6. McGill
7. Alberta
8. Dalhousie
9. Queen’s
10. Saskatchewan
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
1. Guelph
2. Windsor
3. Victoria
4. Western Ontario
5. Calgary
6. McMaster
7. Alberta
8. Regina
9. Queen’s
10. Dalhousie
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
1. McGill
2. Wilfrid Laurier
3. Alberta
4. Manitoba
5. StFX
6. Montreal
7. Saint Mary’s
8. Guelph
9. Saskatchewan
10. Queen’s
WOMEN’S RUGBY
1. Lethbridge
2. Guelph
3. StFX
4. Concordia
5. Alberta
6. Laval
7. Queen’s
8. McMaster
9. Waterloo
10. UBC
WOMEN’S SOCCER
1. Alberta
2. McGill
3. Montreal
4. Wilfrid Laurier
5. Ottawa
6. Queen’s
7. Dalhousie
8. Trinity Western
9. UPEI
10. UBC
MEN’S SOCCER
1. Laval
2. StFX
3. Western Ontario
4. Alberta
5. UBC
T6. Carleton
T6. Toronto
8. York
9. Calgary
10. Saint Mary’s