By: Mike DeVader, Communications and Sports Information Intern

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In the first edition of the 2014 NAIA Women's Soccer Modified Ratings Percentage Index (MRPI), the No. 1 position belongs to Cumberland (Tenn.), the national office announced Wednesday.

This top-spot is a MRPI first for the Bulldogs (10-0-1, 4-0-0 Mid-South Conference), besting the school’s No. 8 position in the rankings on Oct. 23, 2013. As the third-ranked team in the Coaches’ Top 25, Cumberland is riding a nine-game winning streak after tying then-No. 9 William Carey (Miss.), 1-1, on Sept. 5.

The Bulldogs become just the fourth team to claim the No. 1 ranking all-time in the MRPI joining Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (7), Concordia (Ore.) (3) and former member Lee (Tenn.) (3).

The rest of the top five includes No. 2 Concordia (Ore.), No. 3 William Carey, No. 4 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) and No. 5 Concordia (Calif.).

Culver-Stockton (Mo.) – who lands at No. 25 – is the highest mentioned team that was not represented in the Coaches’ Top 25. The Wildcats (7-0-1. 0-0-0 Heart of America Conference) are coming off a 2-1 victory over St. Ambrose (Iowa) on Sept. 24 and has won five-consecutive games.

The MRPI consists of the team’s modified winning percentage, their opponents’ winning percentage and the cumulative ratings points from the NAIA Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. Each of the three values has a weighted percentage calculated in the MRPI. The MRPI modifies the value of home/away/neutral results and adds more value for games against opponents ranked in their respective national poll.

For a complete description of the MRPI formula, go to Appendix C in the Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Manual, or click here.

The MRPI – which began in 2010 – selects the at-large qualifying teams and seeds the 32-team national championship field. For a complete NAIA Women’s Soccer Modified Ratings Percentage Index calendar, click here. The second MRPI will be announced on Oct. 22.

For the complete MRPI, click here.

2014 Women’s Soccer Modified Ratings Percentage Index (MRPI) – No. 1

Rank	School	MRPI
1	Cumberland (Tenn.)	0.932814
2	Concordia (Ore.)	0.927465
3	William Carey (Miss.)	0.919027
4	Embry-Riddle (Fla.)	0.846912
5	Concordia (Calif.)	0.83632
6	Westmont (Calif.)	0.834865
7	Northwestern Ohio	0.813674
8	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)	0.80162
9	Davenport (Mich.)	0.787855
10	Martin Methodist (Tenn.)	0.775865
11	The Master's (Calif.)	0.769397
12	Vanguard (Calif.)	0.746684
13	Spring Arbor (Mich.)	0.742159
14	Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio)	0.673353
15	Benedictine (Kan.)	0.661408
16	Westminster (Utah)	0.660789
17	Northwood (Fla.)	0.646493
18	Brenau (Ga.)	0.620187
19	Cal State San Marcos	0.614974
20	Science & Arts (Okla.)	0.611344
21	Siena Heights (Mich.)	0.578141
22	Biola (Calif.)	0.571304
23	Hastings (Neb.)	0.565858
24	Mobile (Ala.)	0.559443
25	Culver-Stockton (Mo.)	0.551193
26	Missouri Valley	0.550639
27	Midland (Neb.)	0.548907
28	Bellevue (Neb.)	0.54147
29	Trinity International (Ill.)	0.531292
30	Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)	0.525755