KANSAS CITY, Mo. --- The Tusculum University women's soccer team is ninth in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings, through matches of Sept. 16.

The Pioneers defeated Queens 2-1 in their South Atlantic Conference opener last Wednesday in their only action of the week. The victory vaulted Tusculum back into the region rankings after a one-week absence from the survey, while knocking the eighth-ranked Royals out of the poll.

Columbus State remains as the top-ranked team in the region and is ranked fourth nationally, followed by Georgia College, Carson-Newman, Belmont Abbey and North Georgia in fifth. The remainder of the top 10 consists of Flagler, Limestone, Lander, Tusculum and Catawba.

The Pioneers (2-2-1, 1-0-0 SAC) will return to action Wednesday with a non-conference match at Lees-McRae starting at 5 p.m.