BRISTOL, R.I. - The Roger Williams University Women's Soccer team rose to number three in Region II in the latest United Soccer Coaches (USC) poll. They move up from the number six spot a week ago.
 
The Hawks have been full steam ahead as, at the time of the poll, they held a record of 5-2-0 on the season.
 
"We are still a work in progress," said Head Coach Tim Moody. "We will have some ups and downs this season, and right now we are near the top. It is a long journey and what matters most is how we finish in our conference at the end of the season."
 
Although their two losses were back-to-back, including the second one to number-six nationally ranked Massachusetts Institute of Technology, they came back ready to go for Commonwealth Coast Conference play. As a result, they opened the in-conference portion of their schedule with a shutout victory over Wentworth on Friday, September 17^th.
 
"Our conference is very competitive," Moody said. "And we want to be closer to the top than the bottom. It is up to all of us to aim to finish as high as we can. You must believe in the process and enjoy the journey as much as the destination."
 
Even with the cancellation of the 2020 season, the team has been playing like they never missed a beat. The goalkeeping trio of Morgan McCutcheon (Danbury, Conn.), Morgan Strassburg (Longmeadow, Mass.), and Sami Brodi (Clinton, Mass.) continue to split time in goal, but have nonetheless been a nearly impenetrable wall in net. With the help of the defense, the Hawks have only allowed a total of five goals throughout their first seven contests to start the season, while posting five shutouts.
 
On the other end of the field, the offense has been firing on all cylinders over that stretch, scoring 22 goals, or 3.14 goals per game, a mark that is the 40^th best in the nation. Junior Bianca Robbins (Johnston, R.I.) leads the Hawks and the conference with eight goals and 16 points, but the contributions of Rachel Oster (Scituate, R.I.) and Leah Yucius (Duxbury, Mass.) should not be overlooked. Oster posted five points on a pair of goals and an assist for RWU in their win over Wentworth and leads the team and the CCC with five assists on the season. Meanwhile, Yucius has contributed seven total points on an assist and three goals, a number that is tied for the third most in the conference.
 
"We play entertaining, open attacking soccer which can help you as well as hurt you," Moody said. "We have the players to accomplish what we are learning and trying to do. The team, overall, is a very young team, but we have a group of players that will be able to compete with everyone on our schedule. When we improve and learn together at practice, and then implement what we have learned into action on gameday, we will deserve the outcome of the game as well as everything that comes with it including what the rankings say and how we finish in conference play. The game is the best teacher."
 
"If you win games, you get recognized in a good way," Moody added. "If you do not win, you have to accept the consequences. It is important to not get carried away with what others think about you, your team, and your program. And after all, you are only as good as your last game!"
 
REGION II - POLL 2 - SEPTEMBER 21, 2021
Rank  School                                                 Prev   W-L-T
1        Massachusetts Institute of Technology      1        6-0-1
2        Brandeis University                                 3        3-1-2
3        Roger Williams University                        6        5-2-0
4        Clark University                                      2        3-2-0
5        University of New England                       7        4-2-0
6        Wellesley College                                   9        3-0-0
7        Lesley University                                    10      4-2-1
8        Wheaton College (Mass.)                         NR      5-2-0
9        Endicott College                                     4        2-1-1
10      Smith College                                         NR      3-1-1