Following a top-four finish in the NAIA national tournament, the Northwest University women’s soccer team was voted No. 5 in the nation by

Northwestern Ohio, which won the national title and defeated Northwest University in the semifinals, earned all first place votes for the top spot in the rankings.

Spring Arbor (Mich.) had been ranked No. 1 for ten straight polls, but dropped to second. Baker of Kansas was voted No. 3 and Vanguard of California earned the No. 4 spot.

The two teams the Eagles defeated in Orange Beach, also climbed in the poll. Reinhardt moved from the No. 17 spot to No. 11 and No. 25 Ottawa climbed to No. 17. Biola, NU’s first upset victim, fell from No. 8 to No. 16. The Eagles made one of the biggest jumps in the poll going from unranked to the No. 5 spot.

The last time Northwest U made it into the Top 25 was when they were ranked No. 20 on August 18, 2015. NU joins Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) as the two newest members of the Top 25. The Eagles are the only Cascade Conference team to be ranked in the Top 25 and the 11 additional teams receiving votes.