While the LSU soccer team splashed onto in the ranking scene by grabbing the No. 19 in the Soccer America Top 25 poll, the Tigers are ranked in three other polls, including No. 13 by the Ratings Percentage Index power rankings Wednesday.
LSU (8-1-4)defeated then-No. 6 Tennessee 3-0 and tied then-No. 18 Georgia 1-1 at the LSU Soccer Complex this past weekend for the right to be ranked for the first time in the program’s 13-year existence.
The Tigers are 3-0-3 against the RPI Top 50, and only five teams have played more top 50 teams than LSU.
“We feel like it’s important for us to put together a schedule each season that will help prepare our team for the SEC and put us in a position to receive an at-large bid into the postseason,” said LSU coach Brian Lee. “We’ve certainly done that with our schedule this year.”
The RPI is best known in college basketball as one of the tools to help the selection committee determine at-large teams for the NCAA tournament.
The RPI serves a similar function in soccer, and is based partly on strength of schedule among other factors.
LSU will need a strong RPI rating if the Tigers do not win the Southeastern conference tournament and receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
The Tigers are ranked No. 22 by the Soccer Times Top 25 and No. 29 by Soccer Buzz Top 30.
LSU packs its bags as it travels to Auburn and Alabama this weekend