Jan. 24, 2007

DeKalb, IL - After finishing the 2006 season with a 15-6-1 record, claiming the MAC regular season and tournament championships and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Northern Illinois men's soccer team capped a historic season with a final ranking of 22 in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI). It was the highest final RPI ranking ever for the Huskies.

The RPI is one of the main factors used for selecting at-large bids to the NCAA tournament. The RPI is used because it not only takes into account wins and losses, it also factors in strength of schedule for each team. An extremely challenging schedule in 2006 contributed significantly to the Huskies final RPI ranking.

The Huskies faced multiple ranked opponents throughout the year, including No. 16 Northwestern, No. 27 Washington and No. 5 Indiana, who ended Northern Illinois' season in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

When factoring in the Huskies' stiff competition this season, the squad's 15-6-1 record is even more impressive, and is reflected by the Top 25 ranking.

"Finishing 22nd in the RPI is a landmark achievement for NIU men's soccer program," said NIU Head Coach Steve Simmons. "Being in the company of some storied soccer programs speaks to the hard work put in by our student-athletes this season and over the past several years."

Simmons' 2007 team will return 19 players off the 2006 MAC championship unit.