MURFREESBORO – It’s not only a first for women’s soccer; it’s a first for Chowan College.

The National Christian College Athletic Association ranked the Lady Braves’ soccer team number one in the South Region last week.

Chowan, in its first year in the NCCAA, received its first ranking by the association while Stuart Horne’s club got their first-ever regional recognition.

&uot;We were pretty excited,&uot; Horne said. &uot;Last week we were number three and we had a good week.

&uot;It was great because we have never had a regional or national ranking,&uot; the coach continued. &uot;It’s a first for the program and the kids are excited about it.&uot;

Chowan sits 3-4-2 after a tough loss Sunday afternoon against nationally ranked Washington and Lee, but it’s the strength of schedule that has the attention of the NCCAA.

&uot;Our record isn’t that great, but our strength of schedule has certainly helped,&uot; Horne said. &uot;We’ve played some teams that have been ranked highly nationally and fared pretty well.

&uot;We know we’ve been playing well, but it is great to be recognized for it,&uot; he added.

As he looks at the team’s overall performance, the coach said his freshmen were playing well early on this season.

&uot;Our freshman have really stepped it up,&uot; he insisted. &uot;We only have seven players that have experience from last year so we are playing six to nine freshman at a time and they’re playing like they’ve been there.&uot;

Another key has been the defense.

&uot;The defense has played great,&uot; he said. &uot;We haven’t given up more than two goals even playing tough competition. The goalkeepers have played well and so has the rest of the defense. From midfield forward we have played well defensively.&uot;