Who said UNCW is strictly a basketball school?

A brilliant start to the 2006 soccer season has seen both the men’s and women’s teams reach a level of national success the university is sure to be proud of.

Fresh off a stunning road defeat of fourth-ranked Duke, the men’s squad is looking to crack into the national top 25 for the third consecutive season. Recently ranked ninth in the South Atlantic region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), the Seahawks have rocketed to a 5-2-1 start.

Head Coach Aidan Heaney is as pleased as any with the solid start to the campaign. “Our team has had some major wins that the school should be proud of, our win at Duke this week for example,” he said.

Performance on the pitch isn’t the only thing pushing UNCW into college soccer’s national elite. Much deserved improvements to the facilities show that the program is dedicated to bringing national success to the university.

“We have a new locker room and sports med building, and we continue to make improvements to our facility with new goals and covered benches this season,” Heaney said.

As one of only four stadiums in the CAA with lights, the UNCW soccer stadium continues to be one of the finest venues in the Southeast.

On the women’s side, Head Coach Paul Cairney and his squad have obtained a regional ranking for the first time in school history. The 5-3-0 Lady Seahawks are currently ranked tenth in NSCAA’s Southeast poll.

Cairney is delighted with the growth his team has shown over the past several seasons and said the proof is in the results.

“Our women’s program has developed over the past four years,” he said. “Up to that point, we were playing catch-up with many teams in the Southeast region and in the CAA.”

With the men’s and women’s teams doing their part, only one piece of the puzzle remains: student support.

“I think we could have our games better supported. We want the students to identify with our team, and I think they would enjoy the matches.” said Heaney.

The men’s side opens home conference play Sept. 29 against George Mason, which will be followed by an additional three home games in the following week.