Phoenix Soar: Cumberland Men’s Soccer Claims Historic No. 1 Ranking, Women Enter Top 25

LEBANON, TN - Double the pride, double the rankings. Cumberland University’s soccer programs made national waves this week as the men’s team ascended to the absolute pinnacle of the NAIA and the women’s side secured a Top 25 spot in the first National Selection Committee polls.

The Cumberland men’s soccer team reached the mountaintop, earning the No. 1 ranking in the First National Selection Committee Men’s Soccer Poll released Thursday morning. The Phoenix, undefeated at 9-0-2 overall and 3-0 in Mid-South Conference play through 11 matches, jumped from No. 3 to the top after four consecutive victories.

Those recent results included a 3-1 road win at Freed-Hardeman, a 4-1 home triumph over SCAD-Savannah, a dominant 5-0 road shutout of Georgetown, and a thrilling 4-2 victory at then-No. 6 Georgia Gwinnett. The Phoenix have scored 38 goals while allowing just 13, putting three or more goals on the board in eight of 11 games and recording three shutouts.

Offensively, Luis Cerejo, David Barbakadze and Wesley Mendoza have led the charge.

Barbakadze paced the team with 10 goals, while Cerejo contributed eight goals and six assists. In goal, Pau Gelabert has started all 11 matches, posting 27 saves and a .675 save percentage.

Cumberland received four first-place votes, edging Olivet Nazarene (three first-place votes) and Tennessee Southern. The ranking comes less than a month after the Phoenix were tied for No. 6 in the initial regular-season poll and marks another milestone in the program’s rapid rise under head coach Brian Davies. Last season the Phoenix finished 14-4-3, reached the Mid-South Championship match, and advanced to the NAIA final site.

On the women’s side, Cumberland sits at No. 22 in the first Stadionic-NAIA National Selection Committee Poll. The Phoenix moved from No. 19 in the coaches’ poll after a perfect 5-0 stretch that featured multiple ranked wins.

The run began with a 9-0 conference rout of Freed-Hardeman, followed by a 2-1 home victory over now-No. 14 SCAD, a 2-0 Senior Day shutout of Williams Baptist, a 3-0 road win at Georgetown, and a 4-0 home blanking of RV Georgia Gwinnett. Cumberland ranks joint-third nationally with 46 goals and leads the country with eight shutouts.

Sophomore forward Victoria Collins leads the attack with 16 goal contributions, while senior forward Uxia Varela has added 11. Senior goalkeeper Sydney Eads has been rock-solid, allowing 0.97 goals per game with a .782 save percentage.

Keiser remains No. 1, followed by Indiana Wesleyan and Benedictine (Kan.). In the Mid-South, University of the Cumberlands holds No. 6 and Lindsey Wilson sits at No. 19.

Both programs continue building under the Phoenix banner, turning consistent excellence into national recognition.