EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. - Coach Lynda Bowers and her Southern Illinois University Edwardsville women's soccer team will begin the 2006 season No. 23 in the nation in the Adidas/National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division II rankings.
         SIUE, 17-6 last season and qualifiers for the NCAA Tournament, also were picked to finish second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Cougars are one of three Great Lakes region teams ranked among the preseason top 25. Grand Valley State is ranked seventh while Northern Kentucky begins 2006 at No. 11.
         The Cougars begin the regular season Saturday, Aug. 26 at Missouri Southern State. SIUE's first home game is Fri., Sept. 6, against Bellarmine in a GLVC contest.
         Below is the rankings as of Aug. 15.

2006 NCAA Division II Women - National
August 15, 2006
No. School                             Rank  2005 Rec.
 1  University of Nebraska-Omaha         1    20-2-0
 2  Seattle Pacific University           2    19-1-4
 3  Franklin Pierce College (N.H.)       3    19-2-2
 4  Carson-Newman College (Tenn.)        4    16-4-0
 5  Metro State (Colo.)                  5    23-0-1
 6  University of West Florida           6    20-2-2
 7  Grand Valley State (Mich.)           8    19-3-0
 8  West Chester University (Pa.)        7    20-2-2
 9  University of Tampa                  9    19-2-2
10  UC San Diego                        11    18-4-0
11  Northern Kentucky University        10    19-3-0
12  Regis University (Colo.)            12    17-6-1
13  Assumption College (Mass.)          14    15-4-4
14  Catawba College (N.C.)              15    16-4-1
15  University of Central Oklahoma      20    16-3-2
15  University of New Haven (Conn.)     NR    17-4-1
17  Minnesota State University-Mankato  16    11-9-1
18  Barry University (Fla.)             19    13-3-2
19  Cal State Dominguez Hills           21    13-7-2
19  Clayton State (Ga.)                 17    15-3-2
21  Merrimack (Mass.)                   23    14-6-1
22  C. W. Post (N.Y.)                   22    14-4-2
23  SIU Edwardsville                    24    17-6-0
24  Tusculum College (Tenn.)            18    12-6-2
25  Bryant College (R.I.)               NR    13-6-2
25  Chico State (Calif.)                RV    14-5-3
2005 Final Record and Rank Shown

Also receiving votes: South Dakota, Slippery Rock,
Incarnate Word