Sept. 23, 2002

Notre Dame currently holds the distinction of being one of three schools in the nation with its men’s and women’s soccer teams both ranked in the top 10 of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America national top-25 poll. The Irish women (6-2-0) are ranked ninth in this week’s NSCAA poll while the Notre Dame men (4-1-2) are listed 10th in the latest poll.

Stanford (first in men’s poll, second in women’s) and Wake Forest (eighth men’s, seventh women’s) are the only other schools currently ranked in the top 10 of both NSCAA polls.

Both Notre Dame teams have four regular-season games remaining versus teams currently in the NSCAA top-25, with the Irish men still to face current No. 2 St. John’s (Sept. 26), 19th-ranked Rutgers, No. 21 Boston College and 15th-ranked Connecticut.

The Notre Dame women have upcoming showdowns with current No. 10 West Virginia, 19th-ranked Purdue, BIG EAST rival UConn (12th) and No. 14 Michigan.