Royals earn No. 1 national ranking

• Why so glum? You're No.1!

Coaches Bill Ebertz (foreground) Pat Malicki (left) and Omar Salas now oversee the official No. 1 girls soccer team in the nation, according to the latest NSCAA poll. Staff Photo by Tom Carothers.

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On the heels of a 31-game unbeaten streak, the Woodbury girls soccer team is the new No. 1 team in the nation, according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Tied for first in the initial poll of the 2009 season on Sept. 8 as the defending Minnesota Class AA champion, the Royals found themselves all alone in the top spot with a 6-0-1 record (before its 2-0 win at Park on Wednesday) ahead of teams from Archbishop Spalding in Severn, Maryland and Minnechaug Regional our of Wilbraham, Mass.

Woodbury's only non-victory of the season was a 1-1 tie versus Eden Prairie in the season-opening Duluth East Tournament in August. The Royals won the game in a shootout, however, per Minnesota State High School regulations, the contest goes into the books as a tie.

There are no other Minnesota teams ranked in the national Top-25 poll. The only other Minnesota team ranked in the first top-25 from the week previous was Edina — whom Woodbury defeated, 1-0, last Saturday. The Hornets were ranked No. 21 in the Sept. 8 poll but dropped out after the loss to the Royals.

Woodbury puts its undefeated run, as well as its top spot in state, regional and national rankings on the line on Saturday when the Royals host Bloomington Jefferson (ranked eighth in the Minnesota Class AA coaches poll) at 11 a.m.

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