KANSAS CITY, Mo. - After their wonderful run to the Elite Eight of the 2022 NCAA DII Men's Soccer Championships, Northwest Nazarene men's soccer has been slotted sixth in the nation in the final United Soccer Coaches poll of the season.

National champion Franklin Pierce earns the top spot, followed by national runner-up Colorado State Pueblo, who the Nighthawks fell to in the Super Region 4 final. Barry, Lake Erie, and Charleston round out the top five.

NNU is the only GNAC school in the final poll and the highest-ranked West Region squad, followed by Cal State Dominguez Hills at No. 10, Cal State LA at No. 13, and Cal Poly Pomona at No. 22.

This is the highest national ranking that the NNU men's soccer program has ever received.

The Nighthawks finished the 2022 campaign with a 15-4-3 record. During the year, NNU had many incredible moments and achievements, starting with the program's first-ever GNAC Championship after a pair of thrilling wins in the final week of the regular season over Western Washington and Seattle Pacific.
 
From there, NNU kept making more history, advancing through their opening round game in penalties over West Texas A&M before reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time with a 2-1 upset of top-seeded and defending national champion Cal State LA in the second round.
 
The Nighthawks were not done with unbelievable moments in the Sweet 16, as they staged an incredible comeback with two goals in the final three minutes to take down nationally-ranked No. 3 Cal State Dominguez Hills 3-2 to reach the Elite Eight.

In the regional final, NNU kept CSU Pueblo in a scoreless draw until the 87th minute, when the Nighthawks' season came to a close after the Thunderwolves received and converted a penalty.