KANSAS CITY, Mo. --- On the strength of a season-opening win over a nationally-ranked opponent, the Tusculum University women's soccer team is ranked sixth in the first United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Southeast Region poll, through games of Sept. 2.

The Pioneers (1-0-1) defeated 23rd-ranked Nova Southeastern 3-2 in their season opener on Friday, then played to a scoreless draw with Palm Beach Atlantic on Sunday. Tusculum is the highest-ranked of the four South Atlantic Conference teams included in the initial regional ranking of the season.

Tusculum's win over Nova Southeastern was the Pioneers' first win over a ranked opponent since a 4-0 victory over eighth-ranked Saint Leo on Sept. 7, 2012. The Sharks dropped out of the national rankings following their loss to the Pioneers, and are fifth in the South Region poll.

The Pioneers were ranked in eight of the 10 United Soccer Coaches region polls last year, reaching a high point of sixth in the Week 5 poll on October 3.

Columbus State, which is ranked fifth in the United Soccer Coaches national poll, is the top-ranked team in the Southeast Region. Three other teams from the region are also nationally ranked this week: Flagler (14th), North Georgia (19th) and Limestone (25th). Georgia College is ranked fifth in the region, followed by Tusculum, Carson-Newman, Belmont Abbey, Lenoir-Rhyne and Queens.

The Pioneers will head to Florida for a two-match swing this coming weekend, facing Rollins on Friday at 7 p.m. and Embry-Riddle on Sunday at 11 a.m.