WINONA LAKE – A remarkable start to the season led Grace’s women’s soccer team to the No. 7 spot in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, released Tuesday.

The Lady Lancers (8-0) jumped up eight spots from their preseason ranking of No. 15, earning the highest ranking in program history. Only No. 2 Mobile is also undefeated in the NAIA. Grace is tied with William Carey for the No. 7 spot in the Top 25.

Grace received 427 points in the poll, 100 points behind overall No. 1 Lindsey Wilson. Other Crossroads League teams in the poll include No. 10 Spring Arbor, No. 20 Mt. Vernon Nazarene and Marian (receiving votes).

The Lady Lancers blitzed through one of the toughest nonleague schedules in the nation. They took down four teams who are still ranked in the NAIA: No. 3 Northwestern Ohio, No. 15 Bellevue, No. 21 The Master’s and No. 24 Oklahoma City. Grace completed its second undefeated nonleague season in team history, joining the 2009 squad.

Grace has now been ranked in nine straight national polls. The team finds itself just 22 points from a top-5 ranking.

To start the Crossroads League season, Grace will play at Indiana Wesleyan on Saturday at 7 p.m.