Women's soccer, No. 1 in the West, plays at home Oct. 23 and 25

Western Washington University, ranked 20th in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, tops the first NCAA Division II West Region rating released Wednesday.

The Vikings, who are coached by Travis Connell (12th year), are 12-0-2 overall and lead the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings with an 8-0-2 record. They already have earned a berth in the GNAC post-season tournament.

WWU is the only GNAC school in the regional rating.

Following the Vikings are Cal State L.A. (No.2), Cal State San Bernardino (No.3), Cal Poly Pomona (No.4), Cal State Stanislaus (No.5), Sonoma State (No.6), Chico State (No.7), Cal Baptist (No.8), Dixie State (No.9) and Point Loma (No.10).

The rating will eventually determine which teams complete the six-team regional. Three of the entries will be the post-season tournament champions from the GNAC and California Collegiate Athletic Association as well as the Pacific West Conference regular-season champion.

WWU is at home this week, playing host to Seattle Pacific on Thursday, Oct. 23 (7 p.m.), and Central Washington on Saturday, Oct. 25 (7 p.m.). The Vikings are working on a 19-game home field winning streak.