BOSTON – One of the most impressive #AEMSOC seasons was capped off on Tuesday as both New Hampshire and Vermont were ranked in the top-15 nationally at the conclusion of the season and Bryant finished just outside of the United Soccer Coaches National Rankings.
In the final poll of the 2023 season, UNH was ranked ninth, while the Catamounts were 14th. Bryant was just outside the top-25, receiving the most votes of any team not ranked in the last poll. This marks the second straight season two #AEMSOC programs were ranked to conclude the season and first time since 2016 that three different programs were ranked throughout the course of the season. Final USC Rankings.
The final RPI was recently released this week also and all three programs finished inside the top-25, led by UNH at #13, UVM at #18 and Bryant at #21. NJIT finished fourth in the conference at #49. The America East as a conference finished with an RPI of 6, behind just the Pac-12, ACC, Big Ten, Sun Belt and WCC.
This year marked the sixth time in the last seven years the Wildcats were ranked to end the season and matched their highest year-end national ranking, which was set back in 2021. UNH went 13-3-4 and advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 before falling 1-0 to eventual national champion Clemson 1-0. They earned a 3-0 second round victory over Syracuse.
Vermont concluded the season ranked for the second straight year, its second top-15 ranking in as many years. The Catamounts finished with a 13-6-2 record overall and reached the Round of 16 before falling 2-1 to West Virginia. They finished with the #18 RPI after playing a tough non-conference schedule. They took down UCF 3-2 in the second round on the road to advance to the Round of 16.
Bryant had one of the most dramatic turnarounds in NCAA history, improving by 10.5 games from 2022 to 2023 under first-year head coach Ruben Resendes. The Bulldogs posted an RPI of 21 and led the nation in goals against average, shutout percentage, and save percentage while winning the program's first #AEMSOC Championship.
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